News
COVID-19 Associated Pulmonary Aspergillosis (CAPA)- Research Publication by UCSF Fresno Infectious Diseases
December 9, 2021
COVID-19 has wreaked havoc across the globe in the past year and a half. In addition to the direct morbidity and mortality associated with this infection, we have seen several secondary infections arise because of the virus causing damage to the lungs and immune system.
One such infection that has been of interest globally is Aspergillosis, a fungal mold infection of the lung which can be deadly. This fungus is known to cause severe and fatal lung infections in patients with weakened immune systems such as those with cancer and can be recovered from their respiratory secretions. However, lately, we have seen this cause infection in people with severe COVID-19 infections in the ICU. The doctors in the Division of Infectious Diseases at UCSF Fresno studied patients in Community Medical Centers ICU with COVID-19 infection and Aspergillosis in the past year. The results of this study were published in the Journal of Fungi, a leading infectious disease journal on fungal infections.
The purpose of this study was to better understand the risk factors, clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment strategies of patients in our community with COVID-19 infection who develop secondary Aspergillosis infection. With the help of these studies, we can better understand ways to diagnose, treat, and maybe even prevent secondary fungal mold infections and thereby improve hospital outcomes.
Click the link to read the published article from the Journal of Fungi: https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/7/11/948
Geetha Sivasubramanian, MD
About the Author: Geetha Sivasubramanian, MD, is board certified in infectious disease by The American Board of Internal Medicine. Dr. Sivasubramanian holds a faculty appointment with University of California, San Francisco in the UCSF Fresno Department of Internal Medicine.