A challenging complication following SARS-CoV-2 infection: a case of pulmonary mucormycosis
Daniela Pasero, Silvana Sanna, Corrado Liperi, Davide Piredda, Gian Pietro Branca, Lorenzo Casadio, Raffaella Simeo, Alice Buselli, Davide Rizzo, Francesco Bussu, Salvatore Rubino, Pierpaolo Terragni
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection might induce a significant and sustained lymphopenia, increasing the risk of developing opportunistic infections. Mucormycosis is a rare but severe invasive fungal infection, mainly described in immunocompromised patients. The first case of a patient diagnosed with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) who developed a pulmonary mucormycosis with extensive cavitary lesions is here reported. This case highlights how this new coronavirus might impair the immune response, exposing patients to higher risk of developing opportunistic infections and leading to worse outcomes.