Fungal infections in patients after recovering from COVID-19: a systematic review

• Published in: Therapeutic advances in infectious disease Vol. 11; p. 20499361241242963
• Main Authors: Ulloque-Badaracco, Juan R, Copaja-Corzo, Cesar, Hernandez-Bustamante, Enrique A, Cabrera-Guzmán, Juan C, Huayta-Cortez, Miguel A, Carballo-Tello, Ximena L, Seminario-Amez, Rosa A, Hueda-Zavaleta, Miguel, Benites-Zapata, Vicente A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England SAGE Publications 01.01.2024; SAGE Publishing
• Subjects: Update on invasive fungal infections; COVID-19; mucormycosis; aspergillosis; Pneumocystis jirovecii; fungal infections
• ISSN: 2049-9361; 2049-937X
• DOI: 10.1177/20499361241242963

The presence of fungal infections has been described in patients after recovering from COVID-19. This study aims to conduct a systematic review of studies that reported fungal infections ( spp., , or spp.) in adults after recovering from COVID-19. We performed a systematic review through PubMed, Web of Science, OVID-Medline, Embase, and Scopus. The study selection process was performed independently and by at least two authors. We performed a risk of bias assessment using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for cohort and case-control studies, and the Joanna Briggs Institute's Checklists for Case Series and Case Reports. The systematic search found 33 studies meeting all inclusion criteria. There was a total population of 774 participants, ranging from 21 to 87 years. From them, 746 developed a fungal infection. In 19 studies, spp. was reported as the main mycosis. In 10 studies, was reported as the main mycosis. In seven studies, spp. was reported as the main mycosis. Regarding the quality assessment, 12 studies were classified as low risk of bias and the remaining studies as high risk of bias. Patients' clinical presentation and prognosis after recovering from COVID-19 with fungal infection differ from those reported patients with acute COVID-19 infection and those without COVID-19 infection.