Fungal Infections (FI) Associated with Covid-19

Abstract

The aim of this study was to conduct a survey of the fungal species associated with COVID-19 viral infection in 150 patients who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) in Al-Diwaniyah Teaching Hospital in Al-Diwaniyah City, Iraq, for a five-month period from October 2021 to February 2022. The results indicated the dominance of Candida spp. over the rest of the isolated fungal species, with 97 isolates (64.66%). Aspergillus spp., with 15 isolates (10%), came in second. Rhizopus sp. with 2 isolates (1.33%). Then with 1 isolate (0.66%) for each of Penicillium sp., Coccidiodes sp., and Rhodotorula sp., Also, results show that the male has a higher percentage than the female (54.9%) and co-infections with fungi were more common in the 60–69 age group then in the 70–79 age group (34% versus 24%, respectively). Taking a deeper look at the patients' medical histories, it was shown that fungal co-infection was more prevalent in those with chronic sickness than in those without chronic disease (55.66% versus 43.14%, respectively).