Pulmonary Aspergillosis Is Common in Patients with Fatal Viral Pneumonia

Aspergillosis was diagnosed on postmortem examination in 12 of 44 cases of fatal influenza or COVID-19 pneumonia.

Pulmonary aspergillosis is well known in patients with severe influenza and has more recently been noted in those with severe COVID-19 pneumonia. To better characterize viral-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (VAPA), investigators in Belgium retrospectively studied antemortem and autopsy data in 44 patients who died after being admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with severe influenza (21 patients) or COVID-19 (23 patients).

Postmortem examination demonstrated invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in 12 patients (6 with influenza and 6 with COVID-19). In those diagnosed with VAPA at autopsy, sensitivity of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) Aspergillus galactomannan testing (GM) was 92% and specificity was 64%. BAL culture had a sensitivity of 5…

Reviewing Author

Neil M. Ampel, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesCoccidioidomycosis Study Group (Past President, Secretary, Treasurer)

Neil M. Ampel, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesCoccidioidomycosis Study Group (Past President, Secretary, Treasurer)

Pulmonary Aspergillosis Is Common in Patients with Fatal Viral Pneumonia

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Reviewing Author