Diagnosing COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis
Authors: Paul E Verweij, Jean-Pierre Gangneux, Matteo Bassetti, Roger J M Brüggemann, Oliver A Cornely, Philipp Koehler, Cornelia Lass-Flörl, Frank L van de Veerdonk, Arunaloke Chakrabarti, Martin Hoenigl
Journal: The Lancet Microbe (2020)

There is increasing concern that patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) might be at risk of developing invasive pulmonary aspergillosis co-infection.1Gangneux JP Bougnoux ME Dannaoui E Cornet M Zahar JR Invasive fungal diseases during COVID-19: we should be prepared.J Mycol Med. 2020; (published online April 6.)DOI:10.1016/j.mycmed.2020.100971Crossref Scopus (211) Google Scholar In a cohort of 221 patients with COVID-19 in China, fungal infections were diagnosed in seven individuals, all of whom were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).2Zhang G Hu C Luo L et al.Clinical features and short-term outcomes of 221 patients with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China.J Clin Virol. 2020; 127104364Crossref PubMed Scopus (414) Google Scholar However, causative fungal pathogens were not identified.2Zhang G Hu C Luo L et al.Clinical features and short-term outcomes of 221 patients with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China.J Clin Virol. 2020; 127104364Crossref PubMed Scopus (414) Google Scholar Given that in China, galactomannan testing is rarely available,3Wang H Ding Y Li X Yang L Zhang W Kang W Fatal aspergillosis in a patient with SARS who was treated with corticosteroids.N Engl J Med. 2003; 349: 507-508Crossref PubMed Scopus (144) Google Scholar the real burden of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in patients with COVID-19 requiring ICU admission is probably underestimated. Indeed, nine patients with COVID-19 and invasive pulmonary aspergillosis were recently described in France (33% of 27 admitted to the ICU with COVID-19),4Alanio A, Dellière S, Fodil S, Bretagne S, Bruno Mégarbane B. High prevalence of putative invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in critically ill COVID-19 patients. SSRN 2020; published online April 15. 3575581 (abstr).Google Scholar and five in Germany (26% of 19 admitted);5Koehler P Cornely OA Böttiger BW et al.COVID-19 associated pulmonary aspergillosis.Mycoses. 2020; (published online April 27.)DOI:10.1111/myc.13096Crossref Scopus (376) Google Scholar rates similar to those observed in association with influenza.6Schauwvlieghe AFAD Rijnders BJA Philips N et al.Invasive aspergillosis in patients admitted to the intensive care unit with severe influenza: a retrospective cohort study.Lancet Respir Med. 2018; 6: 782-792Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (548) Google Scholar Although serum galactomannan is a sensitive diagnostic marker in patients with neutropenia in intensive care, galactomannan sensitivity was only 25% in patients who did not have neutropenia, but had proven invasive pulmonary aspergillosis.7Meersseman W Lagrou K Maertens J et al.Galactomannan in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid: a tool for diagnosing aspergillosis in intensive care unit patients.Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2008; 177: 27-34Crossref PubMed Scopus (418) Google Scholar Although serum galactomannan was positive in 65% of patients with influenza-associated pulmonary aspergillosis,6Schauwvlieghe AFAD Rijnders BJA Philips N et al.Invasive aspergillosis in patients admitted to the intensive care unit with severe influenza: a retrospective cohort study.Lancet Respir Med. 2018; 6: 782-792Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (548) Google Scholar only three (21%) of 14 patients with COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis were serum galactomannan positive.4Alanio A, Dellière S, Fodil S, Bretagne S, Bruno Mégarbane B. High prevalence of putative invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in critically ill COVID-19 patients. SSRN 2020; published online April 15. 3575581 (abstr).Google Scholar, 5Koehler P Cornely OA Böttiger BW et al.COVID-19 associated pulmonary aspergillosis.Mycoses. 2020; (published online April 27.)DOI:10.1111/myc.13096Crossref Scopus (376) Google Scholar Reasons for the lower sensitivity in patients with COVID-19 versus those with influenza are unknown, although treatment with chloroquine might have a negative effect on serum galactomannan performance, because the drug exhibits in-vitro activity against Aspergillus fumigatus.8Henriet SS Jans J Simonetti E et al.Chloroquine modulates the fungal immune response in phagocytic cells from patients with chronic granulomatous disease.J Infect Dis. 2013; 207: 1932-1939Crossref PubMed Scopus (35) Google Scholar Exposure to antifungals is a well known factor that decreases the sensitivity of serum galactomannan testing. Negative serum galactomannan might indicate that Aspergillus spp hyphae are unable to cause angioinvasive growth and release galactomannan into the blood. Most patients with COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis did not have European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer/Mycoses Study Group Education and Research Consortium (EORTC/MSGERC) host factors, because only two (15%) of 13 had haematological malignancy as underlying disease.3Wang H Ding Y Li X Yang L Zhang W Kang W Fatal aspergillosis in a patient with SARS who was treated with corticosteroids.N Engl J Med. 2003; 349: 507-508Crossref PubMed Scopus (144) Google Scholar Absence of host factors was also apparent in influenza-associated disease, in which 57% of patients could not be classified according to the EORTC/MSGERC consensus definition or the AspICU algorithm for patients in ICUs. A retrospective multicentre cohort study showed that influenza infection was an independent risk factor for invasive pulmonary aspergillosis.6Schauwvlieghe AFAD Rijnders BJA Philips N et al.Invasive aspergillosis in patients admitted to the intensive care unit with severe influenza: a retrospective cohort study.Lancet Respir Med. 2018; 6: 782-792Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (548) Google Scholar In addition to local erosion of the epithelial barrier of the respiratory tract, influenza virus can exhibit a direct immunomodulatory effect through suppression of the NADPH oxidase complex.9Dewi IMW, Cunha C, Vanderbeke L, et al. Oseltamivir affects host defense against invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. European Conference on Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases; Madrid; April 21–24, 2018. Abstract O1115.Google Scholar Suppression of the NADPH oxidase complex might cause a temporary disease status resembling chronic granulomatous disease, which itself is associated with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis development.9Dewi IMW, Cunha C, Vanderbeke L, et al. Oseltamivir affects host defense against invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. European Conference on Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases; Madrid; April 21–24, 2018. Abstract O1115.Google Scholar Severe COVID-19 is associated with immune dysregulation, affecting both T-helper cell 2 (Th2) and Th1 responses,10Chen G Wu D Guo W et al.Clinical and immunological features of severe and moderate coronavirus disease 2019.J Clin Invest. 2020; (published online April 13.)DOI:10.1172/JCI137244Crossref Scopus (3169) Google Scholar although this has not been extensively studied and a direct immunomodulatory effect on the known antifungal host defence has not been demonstrated. During the first severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) outbreak in 2003, only four cases of proven invasive pulmonary aspergillosis were reported among 8422 probable SARS cases.3Wang H Ding Y Li X Yang L Zhang W Kang W Fatal aspergillosis in a patient with SARS who was treated with corticosteroids.N Engl J Med. 2003; 349: 507-508Crossref PubMed Scopus (144) Google Scholar Because all four invasive pulmonary aspergillosis cases were associated with concomitant corticosteroid therapy, coronavirus infection itself might not increase the risk for invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, but other risk factors might have. Bronchoalveolar lavage galactomannan testing is important to diagnose invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in the ICU and high galactomannan levels (galactomannan index >2·5) were observed in patients with presumed COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis.5Koehler P Cornely OA Böttiger BW et al.COVID-19 associated pulmonary aspergillosis.Mycoses. 2020; (published online April 27.)DOI:10.1111/myc.13096Crossref Scopus (376) Google Scholar However, only a restricted role for bronchoscopy has been recommended in COVID-19, because it is an aerosol-generating procedure that poses risks to patients and personnel.11Wahidi MM Lamb C Murgu S et al.American Association for Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology (AABIP) statement on the use of bronchoscopy and respiratory specimen collection in patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection.J Bronchology Interv Pulmonol. 2020; (published online March 18.)DOI:10.1097/LBR.0000000000000681Crossref PubMed Scopus (160) Google Scholar Collection of upper respiratory samples is the preferred method for diagnosis, and tracheal aspirates and non-bronchoscopic alveolar lavage in intubated patients.11Wahidi MM Lamb C Murgu S et al.American Association for Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology (AABIP) statement on the use of bronchoscopy and respiratory specimen collection in patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection.J Bronchology Interv Pulmonol. 2020; (published online March 18.)DOI:10.1097/LBR.0000000000000681Crossref PubMed Scopus (160) Google Scholar Although Aspergillus spp can be detected in sputum and tracheal aspirates in patients with COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis, its presence might reflect oral pharyngeal colonisation because Aspergillus spp is considered a core component of the basal oral mycobiome. Furthermore, galactomannan testing is not validated for upper respiratory tract specimens. Bronchoscopy is recommended in COVID-19 only when the intervention is considered lifesaving, which includes secondary infectious causes.11Wahidi MM Lamb C Murgu S et al.American Association for Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology (AABIP) statement on the use of bronchoscopy and respiratory specimen collection in patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection.J Bronchology Interv Pulmonol. 2020; (published online March 18.)DOI:10.1097/LBR.0000000000000681Crossref PubMed Scopus (160) Google Scholar Radiological and clinical signs of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in non-neutropenic patients are mostly unspecific and bronchoscopy is thus indicated in critically ill patients with COVID-19 who are suspected of secondary infection, including fungal diagnostic work-up. Even if evidence for Aspergillus spp is recovered, uncertainty remains about whether patients truly develop invasive disease and require antifungal therapy. Indeed, eight of the nine patients with COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis from France were not treated with antifungal drugs, and the three deaths were considered not to be related to aspergillosis, but clinically attributed to bacterial septic shock.3Wang H Ding Y Li X Yang L Zhang W Kang W Fatal aspergillosis in a patient with SARS who was treated with corticosteroids.N Engl J Med. 2003; 349: 507-508Crossref PubMed Scopus (144) Google Scholar Autopsies were not performed to confirm the clinical diagnosis. It is therefore crucial to gain insight into the interaction between Aspergillus spp and the SARS-CoV-2-infected lung (panel). Only histopathology can prove invasive pulmonary aspergillosis through autopsy of deceased patients with COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis. If autopsy is precluded because of the risk of aerosol formation, post-mortem lung biopsy might be considered as an alternative to obtaining tissue. Until histopathological evidence of COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis is obtained, we believe that patients with COVID-19 who are critically ill with evidence for Aspergillus spp in bronchoalveolar lavage or serum should receive antifungal therapy according to national and international guidelines.PanelCrucial next research questions for COVID-19 associated invasive pulmonary aspergillosisDiagnosis of CAPA•What is the positive predictive value of culture isolation of Aspergillus species in samples from the upper respiratory tract (infections vs colonisation)?•In light of low sensitivity of serum galactomannan, are there alternative blood tests for CAPA? What is the performance of Aspergillus PCR, β-D-glucan, and the Aspergillus—specific lateral flow device and lateral flow assay?•Do radiological signs differ in people with CAPA from whats seen in COVID-19 without CAPAProphylaxis and treatment of CAPA•Is the incidence of CAPA in intensive care unit patients high enough to justify antifungal prophylaxis trials?•What is the clinical relevance of CAPA? Is there a survival benefit with antifungal treatment?•What is the CAPA-associated mortality? Autopsy study vs post-mortem lung biopsy?•What is the optimal treatment of CAPA? Considerations of efficacy, dosing, adverse events, and drug–drug interactionsImmunology or host factors•Underlying host factors (neutropenia, lymphopenia, monocytopenia, polymorphims; eg, PTX3, dectin-1, and NADPH-oxidase) or a role for concomitant medication, such as (hydroxy)chloroquine being either harmful (causing defective autophagy) or having direct antifungal or protective effect like in chronic granulomatous disease?•Role of the kallikrein–kinin system in antifungal host defense•Is there an underlying antifungal defect caused by COVID-19 or associated with CAPA, such as defective reactive oxygen species production, defective T-helper cell 1 responses, defective LC3-associated phagocytosis, or defective neutrophil extracellular traps activation or release, such as in chronic granulomatous disease?CAPA=COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis. COVID-19=coronavirus disease 2019. Diagnosis of CAPA •What is the positive predictive value of culture isolation of Aspergillus species in samples from the upper respiratory tract (infections vs colonisation)?•In light of low sensitivity of serum galactomannan, are there alternative blood tests for CAPA? What is the performance of Aspergillus PCR, β-D-glucan, and the Aspergillus—specific lateral flow device and lateral flow assay?•Do radiological signs differ in people with CAPA from whats seen in COVID-19 without CAPA Prophylaxis and treatment of CAPA •Is the incidence of CAPA in intensive care unit patients high enough to justify antifungal prophylaxis trials?•What is the clinical relevance of CAPA? Is there a survival benefit with antifungal treatment?•What is the CAPA-associated mortality? Autopsy study vs post-mortem lung biopsy?•What is the optimal treatment of CAPA? Considerations of efficacy, dosing, adverse events, and drug–drug interactions Immunology or host factors •Underlying host factors (neutropenia, lymphopenia, monocytopenia, polymorphims; eg, PTX3, dectin-1, and NADPH-oxidase) or a role for concomitant medication, such as (hydroxy)chloroquine being either harmful (causing defective autophagy) or having direct antifungal or protective effect like in chronic granulomatous disease?•Role of the kallikrein–kinin system in antifungal host defense•Is there an underlying antifungal defect caused by COVID-19 or associated with CAPA, such as defective reactive oxygen species production, defective T-helper cell 1 responses, defective LC3-associated phagocytosis, or defective neutrophil extracellular traps activation or release, such as in chronic granulomatous disease? CAPA=COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis. COVID-19=coronavirus disease 2019. This online publication has been corrected. The corrected version first appeared at thelancet.com/microbe on May 20, 2020 This online publication has been corrected. The corrected version first appeared at thelancet.com/microbe on May 20, 2020 PEV reports grants from Gilead Sciences, Merck, Sharp and Dohme (MSD), Pfizer, ThermoFisher, and F2G; and non-financial support from OLM Diagnostics and IMMY, outside the submitted work. J-PG reports grants and personal fees from Pfizer and MSD outside the submitted work. MB reports grants and personal fees from Pfizer, MSD, Gilead, Angelini, Basilea, Astellas, Cidara, and Shionogi; personal fees from Biomerieux, Vifor, Paratek, Nabriva, Achaogen, Menarini, Bayer, Tetraphase, Venatorx, and Vifor; and grants from Melinta, outside the submitted work. RJMB served as consultant for Astellas Pharma, F2G, Amplyx, Gilead Sciences, MSD, and Pfizer; and has received unrestricted and research grants from Astellas Pharma, Gilead Sciences, MSD, and Pfizer; all contracts were through Radboudumc, and all payments were invoiced by Radboudumc. OAC is supported by the German Federal Ministry of Research and Education; is funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation) under Germany's Excellence Strategy (CECAD, EXC 2030 - 390661388); has received research grants from Actelion, Amplyx, Astellas, Basilea, Cidara, Da Volterra, F2G, Gilead, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Medicines Company, MedPace, Melinta Therapeutics, MSD, Pfizer, and Scynexis; is a consultant to Actelion, Allecra Therapeutics, Amplyx, Astellas, Basilea, Biosys UK, Cidara, Da Volterra, Entasis, F2G, Gilead, Matinas, MedPace, Menarini Ricerche, Roche Diagnostics, MSD, Nabriva Therapeutics, Octapharma, Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer, PSI, Rempex, Scynexis, Seres Therapeutics, Tetraphase, and Vical; and received lecture honoraria from Astellas, Basilea, Gilead, Grupo Biotoscana, MSD, and Pfizer. PK has received non-financial scientific grants from Miltenyi Biotec, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany, and the Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; and is an advisor to, or received lecture honoraria from Akademie für Infektionsmedizin, Astellas Pharma, Gilead Sciences, GPR Academy Ruesselsheim, MSD, Noxxon Pharma, and University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, outside the submitted work. CL-F reports grants, personal fees, and payment of accomodation or travel from Gilead Sciences; grants and payment of accomodation or travel from Astellas Pharma; personal fees from MSD; personal fees and payment of accomodation or travel from Basilea; and payment of accomodation or travel from Angelini Pharma, outside the submitted work. FLvdV has served as an invited speaker for Gilead Sciences. AC declares no competing interests. MH reports grants from Pfizer and Gilead outside the submitted work. Correction to Lancet Microbe 2020; published online May 8. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2666-5247(20)30027-6Verweij PE, Gangneux J-P, Bassetti M, et al. Diagnosing COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis. Lancet Microbe 2020; published online May 8. https://doi.S2666-5247(20)30027-6. In this Comment, the correspondence email address has been updated to [email protected]. This correction has been made to the online version as of May 20, 2020. Full-Text PDF Open AccessCOVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis: adding insult to injuryInvasive pulmonary aspergillosis might represent a threat in patients with COVID-19. We read with interest the Comment by Paul Verweij and colleagues1 on the crucial next research questions regarding COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis in terms of risk factors, diagnosis, prophylaxis, and treatment. Full-Text PDF Open Access