Possible Trichosporon asahii urinary tract infection in a critically ill COVID-19 patient

Background

Trichosporon asahii, an emerging fungal pathogen, has been frequently associated with invasive infections in critically ill patients.

Case report

A 74-year-old male patient diagnosed with COVID-19 was admitted to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). During hospitalization, the patient displayed episodes of bacteremia by Staphylococcus haemolyticus and a possible urinary tract infection by T. asahii. While the bacterial infection was successfully treated using broad-spectrum antibiotics, the fungal infection in the urinary tract was unsuccessfully treated with anidulafungin and persisted until the patient died.

Conclusions

With the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, invasive fungal infections have been increasingly reported, mainly after taking immunosuppressant drugs associated with long-term broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy. Although Candida and Aspergillus are still the most prevalent invasive fungi, T. asahii and other agents have emerged in critically ill patients. Therefore, a proper surveillance and diagnosing any fungal infection are paramount, particularly in COVID-19 immunocompromised populations.