Impacto da Covid-19 no perfil das micoses reportadas em um hospital público da Paraíba, Brasil

Background and Objectives: Covid-19 can lead to critical immunological conditions, requiring hospitalization in intensive care units. The risk of fungal co-infections increases in these patients, especially if they are on mechanical ventilation, using invasive devices and/or broad-spectrum antibiotics. Secondary fungal infections can worsen the symptoms of the disease, make prognosis and treatment more difficult, and increase mortality and hospital stay rates. Thus, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the influence of the Covid-19 pandemic on the distribution of fungal infections in patients admitted to a university hospital in Paraíba during the period from 2020 to 2022. Methods: A total of 456 medical records from the period between March 2020 and July 2022 sent to the Mycology department with suspected fungal infection were analyzed. Results: Of the medical records evaluated, 120 presented infection by some fungus. Only 17 medical records came from the Covid ICU and 14 of them were positive for some mycosis. The Candidagenus stood out as the most prevalent. It was identified in more than 90% of patients evaluated in the general group and in 85.7% of patients admitted to the Covid ICU. Aspergillus spp., Rhizopus spp. and Mucor spp. were also reported to a lesser extent. Conclusion: The profile of hospital fungal infections was impacted by the pandemic, since a high percentage of Covid ICU patients affected by mycoses was observed in comparison to patients in other departments.