Fungal (fungal) infection increases the death rate of severely ill patients hospitalized for corona, and in particular, the mortality rate of severe corona patients infected with a fungus called ‘Aspergillus fumigatus’ is as high as 80%.
It is from the research results of an international research team, such as the University of Sao Paulo University of Pharmacy, Brazil. The research team analyzed 162 cases of co-infection with coronavirus and fungus and related papers during the coronavirus pandemic. As a result of the study, it was found that COVID-19-related invasive fungal infection can cause serious complications as a secondary infection in a significant number of severe patients hospitalized for Corona. According to the research team Fungi caused by three fungi: Aspergillus, Mucorales, and Candida auris infectioncan be secondary to corona patients. That is, the risk of simultaneous infection is high. Therefore, novel antifungal drugs are needed to lower the mortality rate of severely hospitalized patients with Corona.
People suck up a lot of potentially pathogenic fungal spores every day, but the immune system gets rid of them with relative ease. However, people who have undergone transplant surgery, immunocompromised patients such as cancer patients, and patients admitted to the intensive care unit may face serious problems. This is because the interaction between the pathogen and the host is different. Professor Gustavo Henrique Goldman of the University of Sao Paulo University of Pharmacy, Brazil, who led the research team, said, “With few therapies that can effectively treat fungal infections, the death toll from fungal infections is much higher than the total deaths from malaria and tuberculosis. is happening,” he said. He also added that it is not surprising that fungal diseases are exploiting (attacking) the countless number of hospitalized corona patients.
According to the research team Corona-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA)adversely affects an average of 10% of patients with acute respiratory failure admitted to the intensive care unit. The study’s lead author, Dr. Martin Hoenigl, a professor at the University of California at San Diego and a professor at the University of Graz in Austria, said, “Patients infected with both the coronavirus and the fungus Aspergillus have a 2 risk of dying compared to those infected with only the corona virus. twice as high,” he said. Aspergillosis can remain infected for several days in the upper respiratory tract and can be suppressed with antifungal drugs. However, once the fungus invades the blood vessels of the lungs, the mortality rate is over 80% even with systemic antifungal drugs.
In addition Corona-associated candidiasis (CAC)is almost exclusively seen in intensive care unit patients, and has not occurred more frequently in patients with coronavirus than in patients with other diseases. However, a recently emerging fungus, Candida auris, can colonize the skin and is the only fungus that can infect humans, causing major problems. In particular, it is resistant to all known antifungal drugs, and exists in various environments. Hospitals’ mechanical ventilators, catheters, and other invasive life support equipment can easily infect inpatients.
In India, the number of infections doubled during the pandemic ‘Corona-associated fungal infection (CAM)’ Serious. In India alone, between May and August 2021, there were more than 47,500 cases of hair fungus. Mucositis can occur in the eyes, nose, as well as the brain. The mortality rate rises to 14% when co-infected with the corona virus and hair fungus. Hair fungal infection can cause necrosis, causing the patient to have facial deformities. In particular, if the fungus invades the lungs or spreads throughout the body, the mortality rate can rise significantly to 80%. In India, 0.27% of hospitalized patients with coronavirus were infected with hair fungus.
The research team pointed out that the diagnostic rate of fungal infection is extremely low, especially in underdeveloped countries, and said that it is necessary to expand diagnostic tests, such as 100% confirmation of aspergillosis through bronchoscopy. He also said that a new type of antifungal drug has been developed and is undergoing phase 2/3 clinical trials. The results of this study (COVID-19-associated fungal infections) were published in the international scientific journal Nature Microbiology, and introduced by Eurekalert, a portal run by the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
By Kim Young-seop, staff reporter edwdkim@kormedi.com
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