COVID-19 associated invasive candidiasis
Authors: Abdullah M.S. Al-Hatmi, Jalila Mohsin, Aisha Al-Huraizi, Faryal Khamis
Journal: Journal of Infection (2020)

We have read with special interest the excellent review by Louise Lansbury and colleagues1Lansbury L. Lim B. Baskaran V. Lim W.S Co-infections in people with COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis.J Infect. 2020; 81: 266-275Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (1018) Google Scholar, 'Co-infections in people with COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis'. In this review, four fungal pathogens were reported from three studies2Wang Z. Yang B. Li Q. Wen L. Zhang R Clinical features of 69 cases with coronavirus disease 2019 in Wuhan.China. Clin Infect Dis. 2020; 71: 769-777Crossref PubMed Scopus (777) Google Scholar, 3Chen N. Zhou M. Dong X. Qu J. Gong F. Han Y. et al.Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of 99 cases of 2019 novel coronavirus pneumonia in Wuhan.China: Descr Study. Lancet. 2020; 395: 507-513Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar, 4Yang X. Yu Y. Xu J. Shu H. Xia J. Liu H. et al.Clinical course and outcomes of critically ill patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia in Wuhan, China: a single-centered, retrospective, observational study.Lancet Respir Med. 2020; 8: 475-481Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (7015) Google Scholar, namely Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus fumigatus. In addition, Hughes et al.5Chen N. Zhou M. Dong X. Qu J. Gong F. Han Y. et al.Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of 99 cases of 2019 novel coronavirus pneumonia in Wuhan.China: Descr Study. Lancet. 2020; 395: 507-513Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (14442) Google Scholar retrospectively analysed hospitalised patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection (n = 836) across two acute NHS hospitals. Among the confirmed COVID-19 infection, C. albicans infections were attributed to central line source. Chen and colleagues6Verweij P.E. Gangneux J.P. Bassetti M. Brüggemann R.J.M. Cornely O.A. Koehler P. et al.Diagnosing COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis.Lancet Microbe. 2020; 1: e53-e55Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (153) Google Scholar reported both bacterial and fungal co-infections. Recently, Verweij et al.,6Verweij P.E. Gangneux J.P. Bassetti M. Brüggemann R.J.M. Cornely O.A. Koehler P. et al.Diagnosing COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis.Lancet Microbe. 2020; 1: e53-e55Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (153) Google Scholar reported that Aspergillus species as co-pathogens are commonly identified in COVID-19 patients and are an important cause of mortality. Fungal co-infections and their impact on COVID-19 patients are still understudied. In this regards, we retrospectively analysed nosocomial mortality related to bloodstream infection and their risk factors associated with Covid-19 patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) at a single center in Oman. Five candidemia cases were reported from adult patients. The demographic and clinical description of patients is summarized in Table 1. All five patients were admitted to the ICU, had a central venous catheter (CVC) in place at the onset of candidemia, and received broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy.Table 1Clinical characteristics of 5 patients with covid-19 associated candidemia.Patient 1Patient 2Patient 3Patient 4Patient 5Age76y68y38 y64y49SexMMMMMUnderlying conditionsPneumoniaPneumonia/ hypertensionPneumonia/hypertension, dyslipidemia/old strokePneumonia/ hypertensionPneumoniaReal Time PCR for COVID-19PositivePositivePositivePositivePositivePeripheral blood culture–PositivePositivePositivePositiveCV line blood culturePositivePositive–Positive–Positive culture from other sitesTS–CV tipETT–Presence of central venous catheter at onset of candidemiaYesYesYesYesYesBroad spectrum antibiotic prior to candidemiaYesYesYesYesYesMechanical ventilation (MV)YesYesYesYesYesICU admission prior to candidemiaYesYesYesYesYesCytokine stormYesNoYesNoNoColonization with Candida species prior to candidemiaNoNoNoNoNoTreatment with antifungalsNoYesYesYesYesOutcomeDiedDiedDiedAliveAlive Open table in a new tab Patient 1, A 76 years old male, was admitted with COVID pneumonia. Three days later, he had worsening respiratory parameters requiring mechanical ventilation (MV) and ICU admission. Laboratory investigations revealed leukocytosis (12,000/mm3) with neutrophilia (10,000/mm3) and lymphocytopenia (500/mm3). Results showed elevated inflammatory markers (CRP of 199 mg/l, d-dimer of 80, ferritin of 1240 μg/l, LDH of 565 IU/l and Ca of 1.94 mmol/l). His 14 days of ICU admission were complicated by cytokine storm, upper gastrointestinal bleeding and multi-organ failure requiring continuous hemodialysis. He had persistent fever requiring multiple courses of broad-spectrum antimicrobials. His-respiratory and metabolic parameters deteriorated significantly with increasing vasopressors requirement. His-last blood culture grew C. albicans from central line. Patient died. Patient 2, A 68 years old male with hypertension, admitted with severe COVID pneumonia requiring MV and ICU admission. Laboratory investigations showed leukocytosis (13,700/mm3) with neutrophilia (12,400/mm3) and lymphocytopenia (600/mm3). His-inflammatory markers were as following (CRP of 226 mg/l, d-dimer of 6.1, ferritin of 739 μg/l, LDH of 639 IU/l, ALT of 71 IU/l with estimated GFR of 53. He had worsening renal functions and respiratory parameters with new persistent fever. His-blood culture grew C. albicans. He was started on caspofungin with line removal. Patient died. Patient 3, A 38 years old male admitted with COVID pneumonia requiring MV and ICU admission. Initial blood investigations showed WBC of (8500/ mm3, ANC of (7100/ mm3), lymphocyte count of (900/ mm3), CRP of 207 mg/l, d-dimer of 4.5, ferritin of 2270 μg/l, LDH of 1260 IU/l, ALT of 52 IU/l, AST of 101 IU/l, Ca of 1.89 mmol/l and creatinine of 103 μmol/l with an estimated GFR of 74. His-prolonged hospital stay was complicated by cytokine storm. He was persistently febrile and grew C. galabrata from blood culture. Micafungin was initiated and later shifted into caspofungin. One week later, he developed a high fever with increasing vasopressors requirement with a positive C. galabrata from peripheral site. Amphotericin B was added but his condition deteriorated and died. Patient 4, A 64 years old man with hypertension, dyslipidemia and stroke admitted with COVID pneumonia. Five days later, he had worsening respiratory parameters requiring MV and ICU admission. His-laboratory reports showed a WBC of 5800/ mm3), ANC of (4900/ mm3) and lymphocyte count of 600/ mm3), CRP of 12 mg/l, d-dimer of 46, ferritin of 700 μg/l, LDH of 580 IU/l, and Ca of 2.07 mmol/l. His-blood culture grew C. albicans and C. tropicalis from a peripheral site. Caspofungin was started and voriconazole was added based on sensitivity results. Patient 5, A 49 years old man with obesity and hypertension admitted with COVID pneumonia. Three days later he had worsening respiratory parameters requiring MV and ICU admission. His-blood investigations showed a WBC of 8900/ mm3), ANC of (6900/ mm3) and his lymphocyte count was (1300/ mm3), CRP of 132 mg/l, d-dimer of 0.4, ferritin of 730 μg/l, LDH of 510 IU/l, ALT of 58 IU/l, AST of 51 IU/l, Ca of 2.06 mmol/l. He received an empirical course of antibiotics in view of his persistent fever, after which he showed a good clinical improvement. However, his inflammatory markers started rising again and a repeat peripheral blood culture grew C. albicans and was given caspofungin. Despite progress in public health and hospital care, infections continue to develop in hospitalised patients with COVID-19. COVID-19 patients in ICU, are at high risk of developing nosocomial infections associated with MV and respiratory manifestation.7Cox M.J. Loman N. Bogaert D. O'Grady J Co-infections: potentially lethal and unexplored in COVID-19.Lancet Microbe. 2020; 1: e11https://doi.org/10.1016/S2666-5247(20)30009-4Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Google Scholar Medical procedures and invasive techniques are considered as potential routes of bacterial and fungal infections which are common complications of viral pneumonia.8José R.J. Periselneris J.N. Brown J.S Opportunistic bacterial, viral and fungal infections of the lung.Medicine (Baltimore). 2016; 44: 378-383Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF Scopus (17) Google Scholar Invasive candidiasis is rare but associated with considerable mortality in critically ill patients.9Calandra T. Roberts J.A. Antonelli M. Bassetti M. Vincent J.-.L Diagnosis and management of invasive candidiasis in the ICU: an updated approach to an old enemy.Crit Care. 2016; 20: 125https://doi.org/10.1186/s13054-016-1313-6Crossref PubMed Scopus (81) Google Scholar The main risk factors for our invasive candidemia patients are; prolong hospital stays, CVC, surgical procedure and the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics (Table 1). All our 5 patients were diagnosed as invasive candidiasis by the positive blood culture. Three Candida species were identified; C. albicans, C. galabrata and C. tropicalis using Maldi-tof and susceptibility results shown in Table 2. All patients underwent CVC removal. Persistent candidemia occurred in one patient despite CVC removal and appropriate antifungal therapy. Four patients received antifungal therapy; two received caspofungin alone, two received combination of (caspofungin + amphotericin B) and (voriconazole + caspofungin) and one patient did not receive any antifungals. Despite antifungal therapy, 3 out of 5 patients died. Our observations suggest increased risk for critically ill COVID-19 patients to develop co-infection with Candida, which is likely to increase mortality rates. Considering the high mortality, the need for early recognition of candidemia and appropriate antifungal therapy are basic requirements to improve the outcome of COVID-19 patients in ICU. With this report, we aim to call attention of clinicians to recognize the nosocomial infections associated with COVID-19 patients.Table 2Maldi-tof Identification and antifungal sensitivity results for Candida isolates.Patient 1Patient 2Patient 3Patient 4Patient 5Identification (Maldi-tof)C. albicansC. albicansC. galabrataC. albicans C. tropicalisC. albicansAntifungal Susceptibility Testing by Viteck 8FlucanazoleNDSNDSSAmp BNDSNDSSCaspofunginNDSNDSSVoriconazoleNDSNDSSMicanafunginNDSNDSSFlucytocinNDSNDSS Open table in a new tab The authors declare no conflict of interest This research received no external funding