Increased Hospitalizations Involving Fungal Infections during COVID-19 Pandemic, United States, January 2020-December 2021

Article Immunology

Increased Deaths From Fungal Infections During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic-National Vital Statistics System, United States, January 2020-December 2021

Jeremy A. W. Gold et al.

Summary: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of deaths from fungal infections in the United States has increased, particularly those associated with COVID-19. Aspergillus and Candida are the most common pathogens involved. The death rates from fungal infections are higher among nonwhite and non-Asian populations.

CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES (2023)

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Article Immunology

Hospitalizations for Unspecified Mycoses in a Large Administrative Data Set and Implications for Fungal Disease Burden Estimates, United States, 2019-2021

Kaitlin Benedict et al.

Summary: Fungal diseases often lack specific codes in data sets that estimate disease burden. However, analysis of a large administrative database revealed that 50.9% of unspecified mycosis hospitalizations between 2019 and 2021 had positive fungal laboratory testing, with Candida being the most common (79.1%). This highlights the potential need for improved coding practices and increased fungal laboratory testing.

OPEN FORUM INFECTIOUS DISEASES (2023)

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Article Immunology

Prevalence and Healthcare Burden of Fungal Infections in the United States, 2018

Emily Rayens et al.

Summary: Fungal infections pose a serious clinical problem in the United States, resulting in significant healthcare costs and substantial increases in morbidity and mortality. Predisposed patients are at a higher risk for fungal diseases.

OPEN FORUM INFECTIOUS DISEASES (2022)

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Review Infectious Diseases

The emergence of COVID-19 associated mucormycosis: a review of cases from 18 countries

Martin Hoenigl et al.

Summary: Reports of COVID-19-associated mucormycosis, particularly among patients with uncontrolled diabetes, have been increasing since early 2021. Most patients with COVID-19-associated mucormycosis have uncontrolled diabetes and receive systemic corticosteroid treatment, and rhino-orbital cerebral mucormycosis is the most common disease. COVID-19-associated mucormycosis is associated with high mortality and a significant proportion of survivors experience life-changing morbidities.

LANCET MICROBE (2022)

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Article Immunology

Suspected Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) Reinfections: Incidence, Predictors, and Healthcare Use Among Patients at 238 US Healthcare Facilities, 1 June 2020 to 28 February 2021

Alexander Lawandi et al.

Summary: In a retrospective cohort study, it was found that approximately 0.2% of patients who had previously been infected with COVID-19 experienced suspected reinfection with SARS-COV-2. These reinfection cases occurred at 238 healthcare facilities in the United States between June 1, 2020, and February 28, 2021. Women had a higher risk of reinfection, and the healthcare burden and illness severity were similar between initial infection and reinfection encounters.

CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES (2022)

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Article Immunology

Clinical Characteristics, Health Care Utilization, and Outcomes Among Patients in a Pilot Surveillance System for Invasive Mold Disease-Georgia, United States, 2017-2019

Jeremy A. W. Gold et al.

Summary: Invasive mold diseases cause severe illness, but there is a lack of public health surveillance data. Data collected from a laboratory-based surveillance system showed that patients with invasive mold diseases have diverse clinical presentations and high mortality rates. Comprehensive surveillance is needed to assess emerging trends, and strict application of the surveillance criteria might exclude clinically significant cases.

OPEN FORUM INFECTIOUS DISEASES (2022)

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Review Microbiology

Prevalence of COVID-19-Associated Pulmonary Aspergillosis: Critical Review and Conclusions

Matthias Egger et al.

Summary: Cases of COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) were reported early in the pandemic, but it remains challenging to diagnose. The clinical and radiological manifestations of CAPA are similar to severe COVID-19, so mycological evidence is crucial for diagnosis. However, blood tests lack sensitivity in early stages and mortality rates are high even with antifungal therapy. Testing bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is essential for accurate diagnosis.

JOURNAL OF FUNGI (2022)

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Article Immunology

Low Sensitivity of International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision Coding for Culture-Confirmed Candidemia Cases in an Active Surveillance System: United States, 2019-2020

Kaitlin Benedict et al.

Summary: A study found that healthcare facilities often fail to use the appropriate ICD-10 codes for culture-confirmed candidemia cases, leading to an underestimation of the disease burden.

OPEN FORUM INFECTIOUS DISEASES (2022)

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Article Immunology

Demographic and Socioeconomic Factors Associated with Fungal Infection Risk, United States, 2019

Emily Rayens et al.

Summary: Race, gender, and socioeconomic factors are associated with the diagnosis of fungal infections. Male, Black, Hispanic, Native American, and patients from lower-income areas are more likely to be diagnosed with invasive fungal infections. Diagnosis rates of fungal infections, particularly candidiasis, are higher among individuals over 65 years old.

EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES (2022)

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Article Immunology

Coronavirus Disease 2019-Associated Invasive Fungal Infection

John W. Baddley et al.

Summary: COVID-19 can lead to secondary invasive fungal infections, particularly in cases of severe lung damage or immunological deficits. Various fungal infections can occur, presenting challenges in diagnosis and management.

OPEN FORUM INFECTIOUS DISEASES (2021)

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