Coccidioidomycosis and COVID-19 Co-Infection, United States, 2020
We review the interaction between coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and coccidioidomycosis, a respiratory infection caused by inhalation of Coccidioides fungal spores in dust. We examine risk for co-infection among construction and agricultural workers, incarcerated persons, Black and Latino populatio...
Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
2021-05-01
|
Series: | Emerging Infectious Diseases |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/27/5/20-4661_article |
id |
doaj-cc2c89827c3f4dec80409157ea7d4b84 |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-cc2c89827c3f4dec80409157ea7d4b842021-04-23T11:13:34ZengCenters for Disease Control and PreventionEmerging Infectious Diseases1080-60401080-60592021-05-012751266127310.3201/eid2705.204661Coccidioidomycosis and COVID-19 Co-Infection, United States, 2020Alexandra K. HeaneyJennifer R. HeadKelly BroenKaren ClickJohn TaylorJohn R. BalmesJon ZelnerJustin V. Remais We review the interaction between coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and coccidioidomycosis, a respiratory infection caused by inhalation of Coccidioides fungal spores in dust. We examine risk for co-infection among construction and agricultural workers, incarcerated persons, Black and Latino populations, and persons living in high dust areas. We further identify common risk factors for co-infection, including older age, diabetes, immunosuppression, racial or ethnic minority status, and smoking. Because these diseases cause similar symptoms, the COVID-19 pandemic might exacerbate delays in coccidioidomycosis diagnosis, potentially interfering with prompt administration of antifungal therapies. Finally, we examine the clinical implications of co-infection, including severe COVID-19 and reactivation of latent coccidioidomycosis. Physicians should consider coccidioidomycosis as a possible diagnosis when treating patients with respiratory symptoms. Preventive measures such as wearing face masks might mitigate exposure to dust and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, thereby protecting against both infections. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/27/5/20-4661_articleCOVID-19coccidioidomycosisco-infectionsdiagnosisrisk factorsSARS-CoV-2 |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Alexandra K. Heaney Jennifer R. Head Kelly Broen Karen Click John Taylor John R. Balmes Jon Zelner Justin V. Remais |
spellingShingle |
Alexandra K. Heaney Jennifer R. Head Kelly Broen Karen Click John Taylor John R. Balmes Jon Zelner Justin V. Remais Coccidioidomycosis and COVID-19 Co-Infection, United States, 2020 Emerging Infectious Diseases COVID-19 coccidioidomycosis co-infections diagnosis risk factors SARS-CoV-2 |
author_facet |
Alexandra K. Heaney Jennifer R. Head Kelly Broen Karen Click John Taylor John R. Balmes Jon Zelner Justin V. Remais |
author_sort |
Alexandra K. Heaney |
title |
Coccidioidomycosis and COVID-19 Co-Infection, United States, 2020 |
title_short |
Coccidioidomycosis and COVID-19 Co-Infection, United States, 2020 |
title_full |
Coccidioidomycosis and COVID-19 Co-Infection, United States, 2020 |
title_fullStr |
Coccidioidomycosis and COVID-19 Co-Infection, United States, 2020 |
title_full_unstemmed |
Coccidioidomycosis and COVID-19 Co-Infection, United States, 2020 |
title_sort |
coccidioidomycosis and covid-19 co-infection, united states, 2020 |
publisher |
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
series |
Emerging Infectious Diseases |
issn |
1080-6040 1080-6059 |
publishDate |
2021-05-01 |
description |
We review the interaction between coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and coccidioidomycosis, a respiratory infection caused by inhalation of Coccidioides fungal spores in dust. We examine risk for co-infection among construction and agricultural workers, incarcerated persons, Black and Latino populations, and persons living in high dust areas. We further identify common risk factors for co-infection, including older age, diabetes, immunosuppression, racial or ethnic minority status, and smoking. Because these diseases cause similar symptoms, the COVID-19 pandemic might exacerbate delays in coccidioidomycosis diagnosis, potentially interfering with prompt administration of antifungal therapies. Finally, we examine the clinical implications of co-infection, including severe COVID-19 and reactivation of latent coccidioidomycosis. Physicians should consider coccidioidomycosis as a possible diagnosis when treating patients with respiratory symptoms. Preventive measures such as wearing face masks might mitigate exposure to dust and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, thereby protecting against both infections.
|
topic |
COVID-19 coccidioidomycosis co-infections diagnosis risk factors SARS-CoV-2 |
url |
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/27/5/20-4661_article |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT alexandrakheaney coccidioidomycosisandcovid19coinfectionunitedstates2020 AT jenniferrhead coccidioidomycosisandcovid19coinfectionunitedstates2020 AT kellybroen coccidioidomycosisandcovid19coinfectionunitedstates2020 AT karenclick coccidioidomycosisandcovid19coinfectionunitedstates2020 AT johntaylor coccidioidomycosisandcovid19coinfectionunitedstates2020 AT johnrbalmes coccidioidomycosisandcovid19coinfectionunitedstates2020 AT jonzelner coccidioidomycosisandcovid19coinfectionunitedstates2020 AT justinvremais coccidioidomycosisandcovid19coinfectionunitedstates2020 |
_version_ |
1721512816797548544 |