The First Fungal Identification from Mini-BAL of Critical COVID-19 Patients
| Author | Fatemeh Fallah | en |
| Author | Ensieh Lotfali | en |
| Author | Leila Azimi | en |
| Author | Hannan Khodaei | en |
| Author | Maryam Rajabnejad | en |
| Author | Nafiseh Abdollahi | en |
| Author | Hossein Tayebi | en |
| Author | Saham Ansari | en |
| Author | Saeedeh Yaghoubi | en |
| Author | Abdollah Karimi | en |
| Orcid | Ensieh Lotfali [0000-0001-6709-1320] | en |
| Orcid | Leila Azimi [0000-0002-7216-2530] | en |
| Orcid | Hannan Khodaei [0000-0002-2297-4733] | en |
| Orcid | Maryam Rajabnejad [0000-0003-3228-2922] | en |
| Orcid | Nafiseh Abdollahi [0000-0002-1820-4680] | en |
| Orcid | Hossein Tayebi [0000-0002-6508-8651] | en |
| Orcid | Saham Ansari [0000-0002-1623-5803] | en |
| Orcid | Saeedeh Yaghoubi [0000-0003-3739-1749] | en |
| Orcid | Abdollah Karimi [0000-0002-4225-0097] | en |
| Issued Date | 2023-10-31 | en |
| Abstract | Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a worldwide issue due to its high prevalence and rapid transmission. Fungal infections have been detected in COVID-19 patients, leading to increased morbidity and mortality. Objectives: This study aimed to isolate Aspergillus fumigatus and Mucor spp. on mini-bronchoalveolar lavage samples obtained from children with COVID-19 hospitalized in an Iranian children's hospital. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was performed on mini-bronchoalveolar lavage samples from children confirmed positive for COVID-19 admitted to ICU with a ventilator from April 2021 to February 2022. Demographic characteristics were recorded, and fungal DNA was extracted from mini-BAL samples taken from children. Nested PCR was made with two primers for Aspergillus fumigatus and Mucor spp. Results: Out of 100 children with COVID-19, all samples were negative for Aspergillus fumigatus; however, 12 cases were positive for BAL PCR for Mucor spp. Among the 12 patients, fever, shortness of breath, cough, and decreased level of consciousness were reported in 8.3% (n: 1), 16.6% (n: 2), 25% (n: 3), and 25% (n: 3), respectively. Most cases (41.7%; n: 5) suffered from heart disease, followed by underlying malignancy (33.4%; n: 4). All positive BAL PCR for Mucor spp. cases had significantly higher chest CT scan scores and spent more time under a ventilator. Conclusions: The identification of COVID-19 with Mucor spp. was observed among 12% (n: 12) of children hospitalized in a COVID-19 ICU. When dealing with pediatric COVID-19 patients, clinicians should consider the differential diagnosis of fungal co-infections and have a low threshold to begin treatment. Moreover, it is highly advisable to take prophylactic measures, such as properly using corticosteroids and shortening the intubation time. | en |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.5812/apid-136153 | en |
| Keyword | Aspergillosis | en |
| Keyword | COVID-19 Identification | en |
| Keyword | Mucormycosis | en |
| Keyword | Paediatrics | en |
| Publisher | Brieflands | en |
| Title | The First Fungal Identification from Mini-BAL of Critical COVID-19 Patients | en |
| Type | Research Article | en |
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