Is the COVID-19 Pandemic a Good Time to Include Aspergillus Molecular Detection to Categorize Aspergillosis in ICU Patients? A Monocentric Experience
Jean‐Pierre Gangneux, Florian Reizine, Hélène Guegan, Kieran Pinceaux, Pierre Le Balc’h, Emilie Prat, Romain Pelletier, Sorya Belaz, Mathieu Le Souhaitier, Yves Le Tulzo, Philippe Séguin, Mathieu Léderlin, Jean‐Marc Tadié, Florence Robert-Gangneux
Abstract
(1) Background: The diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis (IA) in an intensive care unit (ICU)remains a challenge and the COVID-19 epidemic makes it even harder. Here, we evaluatedAspergillus PCR input to help classifying IA in SARS-CoV-2-infected patients. (2) Methods: 45COVID-19 patients were prospectively monitored twice weekly for Aspergillus markers and anti-Aspergillus serology. We evaluated the concordance between (Ι) Aspergillus PCR and culture inrespiratory samples, and (ΙΙ) blood PCR and serum galactomannan. Patients were classified asputative/proven/colonized using AspICU algorithm and two other methods. (3) Results: Theconcordance of techniques applied on respiratory and blood samples was moderate (kappa = 0.58and kappa = 0.63, respectively), with a higher sensitivity of PCR. According to AspICU, 9/45 patientswere classified as putative IA. When incorporating PCR results, 15 were putative IA because theymet all criteria, probably with a lack of specificity in the context of COVID-19. Using a modifiedAspICU algorithm, eight patients were classified as colonized and seven as putative IA. (4)Conclusion: An appreciation of the fungal burden using PCR and Aspergillus serology was addedto propose a modified AspICU algorithm. This proof of concept seemed relevant, as it was inagreement with the outcome of patients, but will need validation in larger cohorts.