COVID‐19 associated pulmonary aspergillosis

TLDR

The study aims to evaluate the incidence of COVID‑19 associated invasive aspergillosis in patients with ARDS. A retrospective chart review of all COVID‑19 ARDS patients admitted to the ICU at the University Hospital of Cologne was performed. In a cohort of 19 critically ill COVID‑19 ARDS patients, 5 (26 %) had invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, underscoring the need for routine respiratory sampling to detect co‑infection.

Abstract

Objectives Patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) due to viral infection are at risk for secondary complications like invasive aspergillosis. Our study evaluates coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) associated invasive aspergillosis at a single centre in Cologne, Germany. Methods A retrospective chart review of all patients with COVID-19 associated ARDS admitted to the medical or surgical intensive care unit at the University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany. Results COVID-19 associated invasive pulmonary aspergillosis was found in five of 19 consecutive critically ill patients with moderate to severe ARDS. Conclusion Clinicians caring for patients with ARDS due to COVID-19 should consider invasive pulmonary aspergillosis and subject respiratory samples to comprehensive analysis to detect co-infection.