Evaluation of possible association between SARS-coronavirus 2 and pulmonary aspergillosis

Introduction: The recent emergence of the novel, pathogenic SARS-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a global health emergency and critically ill patients require mechanical ventilation in about 70% [1] For SARS-CoV-2, preliminary data support the emergence of fungal infections in the context of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) [2] In severe pulmonary infections due to influenza virus, invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) occurs frequently among patients admitted to intensive care units and is associated with poor outcome Objectives: In this retrospective analysis, we evaluate the co-occurence of Aspergillus spp in patients suffering from COVID-19 with respiratory insufficiency Patients & Methods: Serum and bronchoalveolar lavage samples (BAL) from ventilated patients in an intensive care unit in a tertiary care hospital will be collected Besides culture of BAL, measurement of Aspergillus galactomannan (Platelia Aspergillus galactomannan (GM) ELISA (Bio-Rad Laboratories)) will be performed as well as Realtime PCR AsperGenius (PathoNostics) to verify Aspergillus spp -DNA In sera, both, (1, 3)-β-D-glucan (Fungitell, Associates of Cape Cod) and Aspergillus galactomannan will be detected Results: So far, 12 patients have been examined Mean age is 61 years, all are of male gender For one patient, positive glucan and PCR were confirmed by culture of Aspergillus fumigatus but Aspergillus galactomannan from serum and respiratory sample remained negative For seven patients, a positive/weak positive glucan was observed while all others fungal parameters were negative More patients will be included and further results will follow Conclusion: At this stage, it is not possible to draw conclusions from our preliminary data