Fungal Diseases and COVID-19

Overview

Symptoms of some fungal diseases can be similar to those of COVID-19, including fever, cough, and shortness of breath.¹ Laboratory testing is necessary to determine if a person has a fungal infection or COVID-19. Some patients can have COVID-19 and a fungal infection at the same time.

People with severe COVID-19, such as those in an intensive care unit (ICU), are particularly vulnerable to bacterial and fungal infections. The most common fungal infections in patients with COVID-19 include aspergillosis or invasive candidiasis.^1–6 These fungal co-infections are reported with increasing  frequency and can be associated with severe illness and  death.^1,3,4,7,8 Awareness of the possibility of fungal co-infection is essential to reduce delays in diagnosis and treatment in order to help prevent severe illness and death from these infections.

COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis

Scientists are still learning about aspergillosis (infections caused by the fungus Aspergillus) in people with severe COVID-19. In the past, scientists thought aspergillosis occurred almost entirely in people with severely weakened immune systems. However, aspergillosis has been increasingly reported in patients without weakened immune systems but who have severe respiratory infections caused by viruses, including influenza. Several recent reports describe COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA).^{1,3,6,9,10-14}

Available information indicates that CAPA:

• usually occurs in patients with severe COVID-19 (e.g., patients on ventilators in ICUs)^1,6,11-14
• can be difficult to diagnose because patients often have non-specific symptoms and testing typically requires a specimen from deep in the lungs^{11, 14}
• can cause severe illness and death^8,9,11-14

Clinicians should consider the possibility of aspergillosis in patients with severe COVID-19 who have worsening respiratory function or sepsis, even if they  do not have classical risk factors for aspergillosis.¹⁶ Testing for CAPA usually involves obtaining specimens from patients’ lower respiratory tract, which are tested for Aspergillus galactomannan antigen and fungal culture.

Increased spread of Candida auris during COVID-19 pandemic

Candida auris is an emerging fungus that can cause outbreaks of severe infections in healthcare facilities. In the United States, it has most commonly spread in long-term care facilities caring for people with severe medical conditions. However, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, outbreaks of C. auris have been reported in COVID-19 units of acute care hospitals. These outbreaks may be related to changes in routine infection control practices during the COVID-19 pandemic, including limited availability of gloves and gowns, or reuse of these items, and changes in cleaning and disinfection practices. New C. auris cases without links to known cases or healthcare abroad have been identified recently in multiple states, suggesting an increase in undetected transmission. Screening for C. auris colonization, an important part of containment efforts, has been more limited as resources of healthcare facilities and health departments have been diverted to respond to COVID-19.

Invasive candidiasis in patients with COVID-19

Patients hospitalized for COVID-19 are at risk for healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), including candidemia, or bloodstream infections caused by Candida.^7,17–19 Fungal infections resistant to antifungal treatment have also been described in patients with severe COVID-19.^19,20  Early diagnosis and monitoring for Candida infections and antifungal resistant infections (e.g., C. auris, azole-resistant Aspergillus) are key to reducing death from COVID-19 in patients with severe COVID-19 fungal co-infections.

Fungal pneumonias can resemble COVID-19

Other fungal diseases, such as Valley fever (coccidioidomycosis), histoplasmosis, and blastomycosis, can cause fever, cough, and shortness of breath, similar to COVID-19 and bacterial pneumonias.²¹ These fungi live in soil. People become infected by breathing in fungi present in the air. Clinicians should consider fungal pneumonias as a possible cause of respiratory illness, particularly if COVID-19 testing is negative. It is important to note that these fungal diseases can occur at the same time as COVID-19.^22,23

Learn more about Valley fever, histoplasmosis, and blastomycosis.