ArticleMycoses2021
Systematic screening for COVID-19 associated invasive aspergillosis in ICU patients by culture and PCR on tracheal aspirate.
Article in Mycoses, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 22 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
22 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 41 citations in OpenAlex.
- Defining COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis: systematic review and meta-analysis.Clinical microbiology and infection : the official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases · 2022Pooled it
- Comparing the clinical characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19-associate pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA): a systematic review and meta-analysis.Infection · 2022Pooled it
- Incidence and mortality of COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Mycoses · 2021Pooled it
- HTS and PCR Methods Are the Most Used in the Diagnosis of Aspergillosis: Advantages over Other Molecular Methods.Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Prospective and systematic screening for invasive aspergillosis in the ICU during the COVID-19 pandemic, a proof of principle for future pandemics.Medical mycology · 2024Article
- Genomic Epidemiology Identifies Azole Resistance Due to TRJournal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- Microbiological Non-Culture-Based Methods for Diagnosing Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis in ICU Patients.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Review
- Risk factors and the value of microbiological examinations of COVID-19 associated pulmonary aspergillosis in critically ill patients in intensive care unit: the appropriate microbiological examinations are crucial for the timely diagnosis of CAPA.Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology · 2023Article
- Cryptococcosis among hospitalised patients with COVID-19: A multicentre research network study.Mycoses · 2022Article
- "CAPA in Progress": A New Real-Life Approach for the Management of Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients.Biomedicines · 2022Article
- An overview of COVID-19 related to fungal infections: what do we know after the first year of pandemic?Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology] · 2022Review
- Article
- Invasive Respiratory Fungal Infections in COVID-19 Critically Ill Patients.Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Review
- Fungal infections in mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19 during the first wave: the French multicentre MYCOVID study.The Lancet. Respiratory medicine · 2022Observational
- Tracheal Aspirate Galactomannan Testing in COVID-19-Associated Pulmonary Aspergillosis.Frontiers in fungal biology · 2022Article
- A Visual and Comprehensive Review on COVID-19-Associated Pulmonary Aspergillosis (CAPA).Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland) · 2021Review
- Early Identification and Diagnostic Approach in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS).Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2021Review
- Coronavirus Disease 2019-Associated Invasive Fungal Infection.Open forum infectious diseases · 2021Article
- Invasive Fungal Infections Complicating COVID-19: A Narrative Review.Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland) · 2021Review
- Taskforce report on the diagnosis and clinical management of COVID-19 associated pulmonary aspergillosis.Intensive care medicine · 2021Article
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundA high prevalence of COVID-19 associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) has been reported, though histopathological evidence is frequently lacking. To assess the clinical significance of Aspergillus species in respiratory samples of mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients, we implemented routine screening for Aspergillus in tracheal aspirate (TA). PATIENTS/
methodsFrom all adult COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), TA samples were collected twice a week for Aspergillus screening by PCR and or culture. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) sampling was performed in patients with a positive screening result if possible. Clinical information was obtained from the electronic patient record and patients were categorised according to the recently published consensus case definition for CAPA.
resultsOur study population consisted of 63 predominantly (73%) male patients, with a median age of 62 years and total median ICU stay of 18 days. Aspergillus species were present in TA screening samples from 15 patients (24%), and probable CAPA was diagnosed in 11 (17%) patients. Triazole resistance was detected in one patient (14%). Concordance between TA and BAL was 86%, and all TA culture positives were confirmed in BAL. We were able to withhold treatment in three of fifteen patients with positive screening (20%) but negative BAL results.
conclusionsPositive culture, molecular detection and or antigen detection of Aspergillus species do not equal infection. Until we understand the clinical relevance of Aspergillus species detected in respiratory samples of COVID-19 patients, minimal-invasive screening by TA is a feasible method to monitor patients. Positive screening results should be an indication to perform a BAL to rule out upper airway colonisation.
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