Non-Neoformans Pulmonary Cryptococcosis Due to Cryptococcus Laurentii in a Positive SARS-COV-2 Patient

Abstract

Non-neoformans Cryptococcus species were formerly considered to be saprophytes and nonpathogenic to humans [1-2]. However, the incidence of Cryptococcus laurentii infections in immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients has been gradually increasing over the last decades [1-2]. During the COVID-19 pandemic, multiple cases of opportunistic bacterial and fungal infections have been reported in patients after a severe SARS-CoV-2 infection. The author reports the first case of opportunistic pulmonary cryptococcosis caused by Cryptococcus laurentii in a severely ill COVID-19 patient who received treatment with Tocilizumab and dexamethasone. This case contributes to the expanding knowledge of emergent secondary infectious complications including opportunistic pathogens after a SARS-COV-2 infection.

Keywords

• Pulmonary cryptococcosis
• Cryptococcus laurentii
• non-neoformans Cryptococcus
• pulmonary mycosis
• COVID-19
• SARS-CoV-2.