Fatal disseminated mucormycosis associated with COVID‐19

Abstract

Abstract Secondary fungal infections are a critical problem that accompany immunosuppressive therapy for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19). We report a fatal case of COVID‐19 with disseminated mucormycosis diagnosed during autopsy. A 58‐year‐old man with diabetes was hospitalized for severe COVID‐19 and treated with remdesivir, systemic steroids and tocilizumab. Following treatment, he was provided extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support. However, he died of multiple organ failure accompanied by pulmonary and kidney infarction, as revealed by computed tomography. Autopsy revealed that the infarction was caused by thromboangiitis due to mucormycosis in the brain, lungs, heart, liver and kidneys. Therefore, the diagnosis of disseminated mucormycosis was established. Disseminated mucormycosis is a rare complication of COVID‐19. Although its early diagnosis is difficult, the disease progresses rapidly. Hence, we propose that immunosuppressive treatment for COVID‐19 should be administered with caution considering the risk of developing severe opportunistic infections, such as mucormycosis.

Keywords

• autopsy
• COVID‐19
• mucormycosis
• thrombosis