Introduction

Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) are life-threatening opportunistic infections, and immunosuppressed patients those with hematological malignancies have been considered at highest risk for developing IFIs [1,2,3,4,5,6]. Serious viral pulmonary infections are associated with increased risk for superinfections, including invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) in immunocompromised patients, particularly in those with hematological malignancies [1, 2]. The prevalence of IPA in critically ill patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is approximately 23% and an estimated mortality rate of more than 50% [1, 3]. Studies have revealed that influenza A and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) were the most prevalent co-infecting respiratory viruses, and patients with viral co-infections have higher mortality rates than those with IPA alone[3, 6, 7]. Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2, arose in late 2019 with rapid global spread. There have also been a number of reports of patients with probable or possible COVID-19 associated pulmonary aspergillosis [1,2,3,4, 8]. Respiratory alveolar damage and abnormal mucociliary clearance caused by this virus may facilitate fungal invasion [2], and half of the IPA/SARS-CoV-2 co-infections occur in non-neutropenic hospitalized patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) [2]. However, reports such co-infections in patients with hematologic malignancies are currently limited. Here, we report a case of COVID-19 pneumonia in an acute myeloid leukemia patient with probable invasive pulmonary aspergillosis.

Case Report

In March 2020, a 42-year-old female with a history of diabetes was hospitalized (day 0) in the Hematology-Oncology ward, Omid hospital, Isfahan, Iran, with newly diagnosed non-M3 acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and began standard combination chemotherapy with idarubicin and cytarabine (day 2). She also received metformin 500 mg/day for diabetes. Laboratory results prior to chemotherapy showed leukocytosis, anemia, and thrombocytopenia (Table 1). Following chemotherapy, she became febrile with a dry cough, dyspnea, and myalgia which lasted 2 days without hemoptysis, coryza, sore throat, pleuritic chest pain, or cyanosis (day 6). She complained of no other symptoms, nor had a history of travel or contact with known or suspected COVID-19 patients. However, she had been hospitalized for the prior two weeks due to weakness and anal bleeding. Physical examination (day 8) revealed a body temperature of 38.7 °C, blood pressure of 100/70 mm Hg, a pulse of 109 beats per minute, respiratory rate of 22 breaths per minute, and oxygen saturation of 91% while the patient was breathing ambient air. The patient had some red spots and petechiae on the soft palate and both legs. Supplemental oxygen, delivered by nasal cannula at 4 L per minute was administered. Lung auscultation revealed rhonchi and examination of her heart revealed no murmurs, rubs, or gallops. The neurological examination and abdominal examination was unremarkable. Nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs were obtained; however, nucleic acid amplification test for influenza A and B was negative. Real-time reverse-transcriptase–polymerase-chain-reaction (rRT-PCR) by Roter-Gene Q 6000 (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany) for SARS-CoV-2 targeting the N gene and ORF1ab gene (Sansure, China) was positive. Blood and urine cultures were sterile. An arterial blood gas demonstrated a pH of 7.55, PaO2 49 mm Hg, PCO2 38.6 mm Hg, HCO3 29.3 mmol/L and the patient underwent oxygen supplementation. The high-resolution chest-computed tomography (CT) scan on day 8 demonstrated multiple vessel-related nodular opacities with grand glass halo including central and peripheral distribution, bilateral pleural effusion (Fig. 1). The patient was rehydrated with approximately 2 L of normal saline over the first 2 days of hospitalization. Following chemotherapy, laboratory results were notable for persistent leukopenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia (Table 2). Empirical antibacterial therapy consisting of linezolid 600 mg bid plus meropenem 3 g/d, lopinavir/ritonavir 400/100 mg bid, and interferon Beta-1b 0.25 mg SQ every 48 h for three dosages was started. On day 9 the nasal cannula was changed to non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV), and on hospital day 10, the patient was transferred to the ICU requiring endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation for refractory hypoxia despite NIPPV. Full laboratory blood analysis revealed white blood cells (WBC) 400/μL and C-reactive protein 165 mg/dL. Serum galactomannan antigen (GM) test with Platelia Aspergillus ELISA kit (Bio-Rad) were 4, 3.8, 3 indexes on three consecutive days (Table 2). Chest-computed tomography (CT) revealed multiple nodular opacities with grand glass halo consisting of central and peripheral distribution (Fig. 1), and based on these results and the positive serum GM results, a diagnosis of probable invasive pulmonary aspergillosis with COVID-19 pneumonia was made. Therefore, intravenous liposomal amphotericin B 5 mg/kg/day was initiated. Despite antifungal and antibacterial therapy, the patient’s condition continued to deteriorate, and the patient died the morning of day 12 due to respiratory and hemodynamic instability (Fig. 2).

Table 1 First admission clinical laboratory results
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Fig. 1
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a, b Chest CT scan revealed multiple vessel-related nodular opacities with grand glass halo with central and peripheral distribution, bilateral pleural effusion

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Table 2 Clinical laboratory results (after chemotherapy)
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Fig. 2
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Timeline representing the course of COVID-19 pneumonia in acute myeloid leukemia patient with probable aspergillosis

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Discussion

As of September 17, 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic due to SARS-CoV-2 has thus far killed over 23,808 people and infected over 413,149 individuals in Iran. Recent studies have shown that COVID-19 associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) may occur, especially in critically ill patients [2, 6]. We report the first probable case of aspergillosis in an acute myeloid leukemia patient with COVID-19 associated with severe ARDS in Iran. Immediately after chemotherapy, the patient became neutropenic, interestingly the maximal reductions in neutrophil counts typically occur 6–14 days after conventional doses of anthracyclines, antifolates, and antimetabolites[9] . CT scan is an important imaging modality assisting in the diagnosis and management of patients with COVID-19. IPA is a possible complication of critically ill patients with ARDS due to COVID-19 [1,2,3,4, 10]. Putative IPA was found in nearly 33% of mechanically ventilated patients with influenza or COVID-19 even in the absence of previous immune disorders [3, 10]. In previous outbreaks of SARS, proven invasive pulmonary aspergillosis were reported [11]. Serum GM screening detects a polysaccharide antigen found principally in the cells walls of Aspergillus species, and this assay is a sensitive diagnostic marker (70%) in neutropenic patients [2, 8] and also positive in this case. As bronchoscopy generates aerosols that cause considerable risk to health care workers, and due to thrombocytopenia in this patient, it was not performed, and GM testing is a suitable diagnostic assay for IPA in lower respiratory tract specimens. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Mycoses Study Group (EORTC/MSG) criteria for invasive aspergillosis are appropriate for hematologic malignancy patients, and our patient was considered to have probable IPA based on an abnormal CT scan of the lungs and serum GM results, in addition to the typical COVID-19 attributed lesions [12]. In contrast, Alanio et al. reported a case of a patient with myeloma who presented with probable IPA with one nodule on chest X-rays in addition to the typical COVID-19 attributed lesions along with a positive bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) culture, but a negative Aspergillus quantitative real-time PCR and serum galactomannan test [6]. In addition, Rutsaert et al. reported patient with AML who had developed IPA during chemotherapy with A. fumigatus growth in BAL culture, although a CT scan and histological examination were not available [13]. Due to challenges in the diagnosis of IPA in critically ill patients with COVID-19, clinicians should maintain a high level of suspicion for this invasive mycosis [1, 6]. Consequently, GM test is simple, and the specificity of an ODI-cutoff of > 1.0 is about 90% to detect IPA [14]. Detection of GM has contributed substantially to the diagnosis of probable IA and is validated in a variety of patient groups, particularly with serial measurements [15,16,17,18]. Studies have suggested a sensitivity as high as 89% and a specificity of 92% in high-risk HSCT patients not receiving anti-mold prophylaxis, and a meta-analysis using an optical density index cutoff of ≥ 0.5 showed a sensitivity of 78% and a specificity of 81%. Serial assessments of GM may also offer prognostic value in predicting clinical outcomes [15,16,17,18]. The AML patient reported here had classical risk factors for IPA, and it is well known that viral infections, such as severe COVID-19 pneumonia, are associated with immune dysregulation (both T-helper cell 2 (Th2) and Th1, impaired cell-mediated immune response and increase the risk for IPA [2, 19]. Despite antifungal therapy, the patient died due to respiratory distress and pulmonary failure. Our case report highlights that clinical suspicion and screening are needed to evaluate the prevalence of IPA in immunocompromised patients infected with COVID-19. Co-infection with Aspergillus may lead to poor outcomes, especially in hematological malignancies patients. Therefore, testing for the presence of Aspergillus in lower respiratory secretions and GM in consecutive serum samples in COVID-19 patients and early clinical suspicion of IPA with timely and targeted antifungal therapy according to national and international guidelines are highly recommended.