Author/Authors :
Salehi, Mohammadreza Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine - Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Khodavaisy, Sadegh Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Khajavirad, Nasim Department of Internal Medicine - School of Medicine - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Izadi, Alireza Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Dehghan Manshadi, Ali Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine - Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Abdollahi, Alireza Department of Pathology - Imam Khomeini Hospital complex - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Aliramezani, Amir Central Laboratory - Imam Khomeini Hospital complex - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Sasani, Elahe Department of Mycology - Faculty of Medical Sciences - Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran , Abdorahimi, Mahsa Department of Microbiology - Shahr-e-Qods Branch Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran , Sadat Kiyaeie, Reyhaneh Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Khosravany, Zohre Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Getso, Muhammad Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Abstract :
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a significant clinical challenge in healthcare settings all over the world. Critically ill COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome may be at increased risk of co-infection with pulmonary aspergillosis. This study aimed to describe a clinical case of proven pulmonary aspergillosis caused by Aspergillus tubingensis in a 59-year-old man with a history of hospitalization due to COVID-19 infection.
Case report: The Covid-19 infection was confirmed by positive nasopharyngeal polymerase chain reaction. He had a cavitary lesion measured 20 mm in diameter with intracavitary soft tissue density in the left lung in the first chest computerized tomography scan. After 25 days, he showed two cavitary lesions in both lungs which raised suspicion of fungal infection; hence, the patient underwent a trans-thoracic biopsy of the cavitary lesion. The direct examination and culture of the biopsy material revealed Aspergillus species. To confirm the Aspergillus species identification, the beta-tubulin region was sequenced. The patient was treated with oral voriconazole.
Conclusion: This report underlined the importance of early diagnosis and management of invasive fungal infections in severe COVID-19 patients
