Fungal infections in patients with progressing COVID-19: pathomorphology and description of clinical cases

Abstract

Invasive pulmonary mycoses are a common complication of severe COVID-19 (COronaVIrus Disease 2019) and are characterized by rapid spread and high mortality. It is especially important to study the epidemiology and pathomorphology of fungal superinfection in order to understand the main vector of the diagnosis and treatment of this complication. The aim of this paper is to consider aspects of the epidemiology, pathomorphologic picture, and clinical manifestations of invasive pulmonary mycoses associated with COVID-19. Clinical cases of fungal superinfections (candidiasis, aspergillosis) associated with COVID-19 in patients receiving appropriate therapy were presented. Results of autopsy examination and light microscopy with routine staining were analyzed. Macroscopic assessment of lesions and histological examination revealed morphological multiorgan changes typical of the combination of fungal (candidiasis, aspergillosis) and viral infection (COVID-19). Conclusion. The presented data of post-mortem examination are important for both science and clinical practice as they form the basis for finding new ways of treating patients with comorbid pathology and developing a prognostic algorithm.