Fatal Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis in COVID-19 Patient with Acute Myeloid Leukemia in Iran

Abstract

Although patients with severe immunodeficiency and hematological malignancies has been considered at highest risk for invasive fungal infection, patients with severe pneumonia due to influenza, and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) are also at a higher risk of developing invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA). Recently, reports of IPA have also emerged among SARS-CoV-2 infected patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs). Here, we report a fatal case of probable IPA in an acute myeloid leukemia patient co-infected with SARS-CoV-2 and complicated by acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Probable IPA is supported by multiple pulmonary nodules with ground glass opacities which indicate halo sign and positive serum galactomannan results. Screening studies are needed to evaluate the prevalence of IPA in immunocompromised patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. Consequently, testing for the presence of Aspergillus in lower respiratory secretions and galactomannan in consecutive serum samples of COVID-19 patients with timely and targeted antifungal therapy based on early clinical suspicion of IPA are highly recommended.