Filamentous fungi associated with COVID-19 and its susceptibility to some antifungals

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to conduct a survey of the fungal species associated with COVID-19 viral infection in 150 patients who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) in Al-Diwaniyah Teaching Hospital in Al-Diwaniyah City, Iraq, for a period of five months beginning in October 2021 and ending in February 2022. The survey was to be conducted over the course of the period from October 2021 to February 2022. According to the findings, yeasts were more prevalent than any of the other detected fungal species, accounting for 98 of the total isolates (65.33 percent). While filamentous fungus accounted for 19 isolates (12.33 percent), including the predominance of Aspergillus flavus with 6 isolates (40 percent) in comparison to the Aspergillus spp. ratio, these fungi were found to be rather uncommon. In light of the fact that this publication provided evidence of the isolation of Aspergillus sydowii from COVID19 patients for the first time anywhere in the world: In addition, we drew attention to the outstanding activity of the antifungal medications amphotericin B, itraconazole, and voriconazole, all of which have a high susceptibility rate.