“Green fungus”: the unusual lung infection that alarms Chile

SANTIAGO, Chile – A clinical study carried out by the Center for Diagnosis and Research on Infectious Diseases of the University of Valparaíso has detected five cases of pulmonary aspergillosis associated with coronavirus, also known as ‘green fungus’, in people admitted to intensive care hospitals in this region.

Worldwide, there have already been cases of mycosis associated with Covid-19 – like India and Uruguay – however, Rhizopus or “black fungi” had mainly been detected in patients who spend several days on ventilation. mechanical, and which are affected by a pulmonary mucormycosisAn infrequent infection that worsens the condition of the sufferer, caused by different types of mold, such as mucoral.

“In Chile, so far there are no reports of this particular disease linked to SARS-CoV-2, but there is another one with very similar characteristics and prognosis: coronavirus-associated pulmonary aspergillosis or CAPA, also caused by a fungus (Aspergillus fumigatus) which in this case is green”, Indicates the study of the University of Valparaíso.

The director of the Center for Diagnosis and Research on Infectious Diseases of the University of Valparaíso, Rodrigo Cruz, together with specialists from this unit, recently published a study which shows that five patients with Covid-19 admitted to intensive care in hospitals in Valparaíso region suffered from the effects of the so-called “green fungus”.

The study reports on a clinical investigation conducted between July and September 2020. Since then, the CDIEI-UV has diagnosed more cases, earning at least seven others. In other words, it would be a dozen cases to date, five of which were ratified during the study period..

“As this is a disease for which notification is not compulsory, the exact number of cases is unknown. But so far, only what our study indicates has been reported. However, before the pandemic in our country, some cases of mucormicosis and of aspergilosis pulmonary, because they are infections caused by ubiquitous invading fungi, that is, they are found everywhere. But the cases associated with patients with Covid-19, we only had aspergillosis, ”says Cruz.

As the infectious disease physician explains, the two diseases present the same risk factors and are more observed in decompensated, immunocompromised and oncohematologic diabetic patients.

“In the case of people with Covid-19, the ‘green fungus’ infection is diagnosed by cultures or by detecting the antigen (galactomannan) it releases. It mainly occurs in the lungs and in patients who have been connected to mechanical ventilation for several weeks and undergoing corticosteroid treatment, ”said the doctor.

How bad is it? According to Cruz, the infection caused by this type of fungus are serious in themselves and are associated with increased mortality, since they attack people who are already serious for another underlying pathology. “The presence of these fungi generally obscures the prognosis, especially in decompensated, immunocompromised and oncohematologic diabetic patients who are on ventilator support. Fortunately, its incidence is low. Consequently, the detection of these black and green fungi is not to be alarmed, but to have a precedent and to continue to take care of oneself ”, concludes the specialist.

Mercury / GDA

El Mercurio (Chile)