“Antifungal susceptibility testing of Aspergillus isolated from nasal washings of Post Covid patients in tertiary care hospital”

Abstract

Background: The omnipresent fungi Aspergillus species are commonly found in soil, water, and decaying waste. Aspergillosis is a systemic fungal infection that can affect equally immunocompetent as well as immunocompromised individuals. A contagious disease called Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARSCov-2). In Wuhan, China, in December 2019, authorities discovered the first reported case. Aspergillosis has also occurred in people with severe respiratory infections (such as flu or COVID-19). An intensive care unit (ICU) patient with severe COVID-19 is highly susceptible to bacterial and fungal infections. These fungal co-infections are becoming more common and can lead to serious disease and even death. The present study aims to evaluate antifungal susceptibility testing of Amphotericin B, Itraconazole, and Voriconazole on isolates of Aspergillus isolated from nasal washings of post COVID patients.

Methods: A total of 300 samples of nasal washings were collected and screened from post COVID patients. The susceptibilities of the isolates to three different antifungal agents were tested by using Microbroth dilution method.

Results: 65 isolates were identified as Aspergillus and their susceptibilities to antifungal agents Amphotericin B, Itraconazole and Voriconazole were done. All the isolates showed good sensitivity towards the three antifungal agents.

Conclusion: Aspergillus was one of the commonest fungal isolates obtained from nasal washings of post COVID patients. All sixty-five isolates showed good sensitivity to three antifungal agents which are the usual drug of choice used for Aspergillus infection. Hence complications can be prevented by regular follow up and antifungal therapy wherever required.