Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Endemic Mycoses and COVID-19: a Review

  • COVID-19 and Fungal Infections (RPL Kodiyanplakkal, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Fungal Infection Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

SARS-CoV-2 generates an atypical pneumonia with high morbidity and mortality. In many cases, the torpid evolution was related to bacterial or fungal co-infections. Non-specific manifestations of COVID-19 infection can make the differential diagnosis with other systemic diseases even more difficult. A review of systemic endemic mycoses associated with COVID-19 was carried out. We will describe epidemiological data, clinical characteristics of the endemic mycosis, and different diagnostic resources.

Recent Findings

Database search process in PubMed, Latindex, and other online web was performed. From 78 published cases, coccidioidomycosis was the most frequent association followed in second place by histoplasmosis. Highly variable diagnostic methodologies were used, but all were useful.

Summary

Mortality caused by these endemic mycoses does not seem to have been modified by COVID-19.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

  1. Li Q, Guan X, Wu P, Wang X, et al. Early transmission dynamics in Wuhan, China, of novel coronavirus-infected pneumonia. N Engl J Med. 2020;382(13):1199–207. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2001316.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  2. WHO. Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Available online: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019 (accessed on 9 November 2020).

  3. Guan WJ, Ni ZY, Hu Y, Liang WH, et al. Clinical characteristics of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in China. N Engl J Med. 2020;382(18):1708–20. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2002032.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. García LF. Immune response, inflammation, and the clinical spectrum of COVID-19. Front Immunol. 2020;16(11):1441. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2020.01441.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Messina F, Marin E, Valerga M, Depardo R, et al. Infecciones fúngicas en pacientes con COVID-19. Actualizaciones en Sida e infectologia. Buenos Aires 2021;29(105):6–16. https://doi.org/10.52226/revista.v29i105.49

  6. Hoenigl M, Seidel D, Carvalho A, Rudramurthy SM, et al. The emergence of COVID-19 associated mucormycosis: a review of cases from 18 countries. Lancet Microbe. 2022;5247:1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  7. • Ashraf N, Kubat RC, Poplin V, Adenis AA, et al. Re-drawing the maps for endemic mycoses. Mycopathologia. 2020; 185: 843–865. This publication highlights the extension of the geographic areas in some ME.

  8. •• Thompson GR 3rd, Le T, Chindamporn A, Kauffman CA, et al. Global guideline for the diagnosis and management of the endemic mycoses: an initiative of the European Confederation of Medical Mycology in cooperation with the International Society for Human and Animal Mycology. Lancet Infect Dis. 2021;21(12):e364-e374. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(21)00191-2. A new guideline update about diagnostic methods and systemic treatments.

  9. Griffiths J, Colombo AL, Denning DW. The case for paracoccidioidomycosis to be accepted as a neglected tropical (Fungal) disease. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2019;13(5):1–10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Linder KA, Kauffman CA. Current and new perspectives in the diagnosis of blastomycosis and histoplasmosis. J Fungi. 2021;7(1):1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  11. • Pruksaphon K, Intaramat A, Ratanabanangkoon K, Nosanchuk JD, et al.Diagnostic laboratory immunology for talaromycosis (penicilliosis): review from the bench-top techniques to the point-of-care testing. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2020; 96(3): 114959 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2019.114959. Immunological tests for the diagnosis of talaromycosis, including a proposed novel rapid point-of-care assay.

  12. Samaddar A, Sharma A. Emergomycosis, an emerging systemic mycosis in immunocompromised patients: current trends and future prospects. Front Med (Lausanne). 2021;23(8): 670731. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2021.670731.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Teixeira MM, Barker BM. Use of population genetics to assess the ecology, evolution, and population structure of Coccidioides. Emerg Infect Dis. 2016;22(6):1022–30. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2206.151565.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  14. Heaney AK, Head JR, Broen K, Click K, et al. Coccidioidomycosis and COVID-19 co-infection, United States, 2020. Emerg Infect Dis. 2021;27(5):1266–73. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2705.204661.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. •• Huff D, Ampel NM, Blair JE. Coccidioidomycosis and COVID-19 infection. An analysis from a single medical center within the coccidioidal endemic area. Mycopathologia. 2022; 15:1–6. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-022-00629-6. This article presents the study with the highest number of patients.

  16. McKinsey DS, Pappas PG. Histoplasmosis: time to redraw the map and up our game. Clin Infect Dis. 2020;70(6):1011–3. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciz327.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Mittal J, Ponce MG, Gendlina I, Nosanchuk JD. Histoplasma capsulatum: mechanisms for pathogenesis. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol. 2019;422:157–91. https://doi.org/10.1007/82_2018_114.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  18. Messina FA, Corti M, Negroni R, Arechavala A, et al. Histoplasmosis en pacientes con SIDA sin manifestaciones cutáneo-mucosas [Histoplasmosis in AIDS patients without tegumentary manifestations]. Rev Chilena Infectol. 2018;35(5):560–5. https://doi.org/10.4067/s0716-10182018000500560.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Tobón AM, Gómez BL. Pulmonary histoplasmosis. Mycopathologia. 2021;186(5):697–705. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-021-00588-4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Qin Y, Huang X, Chen H, Liu X, et al. Burden of talaromyces marneffei infection in people living with Hiv/Aids in Asia during art Era: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Bmc Infect Dis. 2020;20(1):551.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Chan JF, Lau SK, Yuen KY, Woo PC. Talaromyces (Penicillium) marneffei infection in non-HIV-infected patients. Emerg Microbes Infect. 2016;5(3): e19. https://doi.org/10.1038/emi.2016.18.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  22. Schwartz IS, Kauffman CA. Blastomycosis. Semin Respir Crit Care Med. 2020;41(1):31–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Benedict K, Williams S, Beekmann SE, Polgreen PM, et al. Testing practices for fungal respiratory infections and sars-cov-2 among infectious disease specialists, united states. J Fungi. 2021;7(8):2–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Baddley JW, Thompson GR, Chen SCA, White PL, et al. Coronavirus Disease 2019-associated invasive fungal infection. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2021;8(12):1–11.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Nasim R, Prasad A, Nasim H. Postpartum COVID-19 complicated by blastomycosis infection. Chest. 2021;160(4):A274.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Restrepo A, Gómez BL, Tobón A. Paracoccidioidomycosis: Latin America’s own fungal disorder. Curr Fungal Infect Rep. 2012;6(4):303–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Baldo ME, Raffaele RM, Da Silva Santos PS, Ramalho RT, et al. Diagnostic challenge in an individual with Paracoccidioidomycosis during hospitalization in times of COVID-19. Int J Innov Educ Res. 2022;10(2):149–58.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. de Macedo PM, Freitas DFS, Varon AG, Lamas C da C, et al. COVID-19 and acute juvenile paracoccidioidomycosis coinfection. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2020;14(8):1–7.

  29. Nargesi S, Bongomin F, Hedayati MT. The impact of covid-19 pandemic on aidsrelated mycoses and fungal neglected tropical diseases: why should we worry? PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2021;15(2):1–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Krauth DS, Jamros CM, Rivard SC, Olson NH, et al. Accelerated progression of disseminated coccidioidomycosis following SARS-CoV-2 infection: a case report. Mil Med. 2021;186(11–12):1254–6. https://doi.org/10.1093/milmed/usab132.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Nassif EF, Maloney N, Conley AP, Keung EZ. Disseminated coccidioidomycosis following COVID-19 mimicking metastatic thoracic relapse of well-differentiated liposarcoma: a case report. Front Med (Lausanne). 2021;13(8): 715939. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2021.715939.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Chang CC, Senining R, Kim J, Goyal R. An acute pulmonary coccidioidomycosis coinfection in a patient presenting with multifocal pneumonia with COVID-19. J Investig Med High Impact Case Rep. 2020;8:2324709620972244. https://doi.org/10.1177/2324709620972244.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  33. Shah AS, Heidari A, Civelli VF, Sharma R, et al. The coincidence of 2 epidemics, coccidioidomycosis and SARS-CoV-2: a case report. J Investig Med High Impact Case Rep. 2020;8:2324709620930540. https://doi.org/10.1177/2324709620930540.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  34. Chen JC, Wong D, Rabi S, Worswick S, et al. All that coughs is not COVID-19: a delayed diagnosis of disseminated coccidioidomycosis following Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 infection. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2021;8(7):ofab246. https://doi.org/10.1093/ofid/ofab246.

  35. Messina FA, Marin E, Caceres DH, Romero M, et al. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in a patient with disseminated histoplasmosis and HIV-a case report from Argentina and literature review. J Fungi (Basel). 2020;6(4):275. https://doi.org/10.3390/jof6040275.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Basso RP, Poester VR, Benelli JL, Stevens DA, et al. COVID-19-associated histoplasmosis in an AIDS patient. Mycopathologia. 2021;186(1):109–12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-020-00505-1.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. de Macedo PM, Freitas AD, Bártholo TP, Bernardes-Engemann AR, et al. Acute pulmonary histoplasmosis following COVID-19: novel laboratorial methods aiding diagnosis. J Fungi (Basel). 2021;7(5):346. https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7050346.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Bertolini M, Mutti MF, Barletta JA, Falak A, et al. COVID-19 associated with AIDS-related disseminated histoplasmosis: a case report. Int J STD AIDS. 2020;31(12):1222–1224. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956462420957518.

  39. Maldonado I, Elisiri ME, Fernández-Canigia L, Sánchez AV, et al. COVID-19 associated with disseminated histoplasmosis in a kidney transplant patient. Rev Argent Microbiol. 2021;S0325–7541(21):00121–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ram.2021.10.006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Stasiak CES, Nigri DH, Cardoso FR, Mattos RSAR, et al. Case report: incidental finding of COVID-19 infection after positron emission tomography/CT imaging in a patient with a diagnosis of histoplasmosis and recurring fever. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2021;104(5):1651–4. https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.20-0952.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  41. Taylor M, Ghodasara A, Ismail A, Gauhar U, et al. Disseminated histoplasmosis in an immunocompetent patient after COVID-19 pneumonia. Cureus. 2021;13(8): e17269. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.17269.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  42. Khanna A, Sinha AK, Kumar P, Pandey KK. Acute localized pulmonary histoplasmosis - another bug out of COVID’s Pandora box! Lung India. 2022;39(1):91–2. https://doi.org/10.4103/lungindia.lungindia_590_21.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Perez Del Nogal G, Mata A, Ernest P, Salinas I. Disseminated histoplasmosis in an immunocompetent patient with COVID-19 pneumonia. BMJ Case Rep. 2022;15(1): e247617. https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2021-247617.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  44. Liu J, Li H, Luo M, Liu J, et al. Lymphopenia predicted illness severity and recovery in patients with COVID-19: a single-center, retrospective study. PLoS ONE. 2020;15(11): e0241659. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0241659.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  45. Pathak L, Gayan S, Pal B, Talukdar J, et al. Coronavirus activates an altruistic stem cell-mediated defense mechanism that reactivates dormant tuberculosis: implications in Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic. Am J Pathol. 2021;191(7):1255–68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajpath.2021.03.011.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Dellière S, Dudoignon E, Fodil S, Voicu S, et al. Risk factors associated with COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis in ICU patients: a French multicentric retrospective cohort. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2020;27(5):790.e1-5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmi.2020.12.005.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Rubin EJ, Longo DL, Baden LR. Interleukin-6 receptor inhibition in Covid-19 - cooling the inflammatory soup. N Engl J Med. 2021;384(16):1564–5. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMe2103108.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Rodrigues ML, Nosanchuk JD. Fungal diseases as neglected pathogens: a wake-up call to public health officials. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2020;14(2):1–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mycology Unit, Francisco Javier Muñiz Infectious Diseases Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Fernando A. Messina & Gabriela Santiso

  2. Mycology Department, Instituto de Medicina Regional, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas Y Técnicas (CONICET), Resistencia, Argentina

    Gustavo Giusiano

Authors
  1. Fernando A. Messina
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Gustavo Giusiano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Gabriela Santiso
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fernando A. Messina.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

This article is part of the Topical Collection on COVID-19 and Fungal Infections

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Messina, F.A., Giusiano, G. & Santiso, G. Endemic Mycoses and COVID-19: a Review. Curr Fungal Infect Rep 16, 98–106 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12281-022-00435-z

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12281-022-00435-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation