Candida glabrata Empyema Thoracis-A Post-COVID-19 Complication

The COVID-19 pandemic is associated with a significant increase in the incidence of invasive mycosis, including pulmonary aspergillosis, mucormycosis, and candidiasis. Fungal empyema thoracis (FET) is an uncommon clinical presentation of invasive fungal disease (IFD) associated with significant mortality. Here, we describe the first report of a patient with post-COVID-19 multifocal necrotizing pneumonia complicated by a polymicrobial empyema that included Candida glabrata. Candida empyemas represent another manifestation of a COVID-19-associated fungal opportunistic infection, and this infrequently encountered entity requires a high degree of clinical suspicion for timely identification and management. Therapy for empyemas and other non-bloodstream Candida infections may differ from candidemia due to several pharmacokinetic parameters impacting bioavailability of the antifungal in the affected tissue (e.g., pleural space) and is an area that needs more investigation.

Automated summary

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in the incidence of invasive fungal infections, including pulmonary aspergillosis, mucormycosis, and candidiasis. This article describes a rare case of post-COVID-19 multifocal necrotizing pneumonia complicated by a polymicrobial empyema, which included Candida glabrata. Candida empyema is another manifestation of COVID-19-associated fungal opportunistic infection, and its diagnosis and management require a high degree of clinical suspicion.