Corticosterapy associated to COVID-19

An allied or a risk factor for the secundary fungal co-infections establishment?

Authors

  • Thaís Ferreira do Amaral Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6821-932X
  • Natália Monteiro da Silva Rodrigues Coutinho Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6788-7238
  • Rubia do Nascimento Fuentefria Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil.
  • Alexandre Meneghello Fuentefria Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2979-4417
  • Gabriella da Rosa Monte Machado Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22491/2357-9730.124623

Abstract

Introduction: the corticosteroids therapy to combat inflammation caused by SARS-CoV-2 appears to be a risk factor for the secondary fungal co-infections development.

Methods: pubmed and science direct databases, using the following words group: [(aspergillosis OR mucormycosis OR candidiasis) AND (coronavirus disease) AND (corticoids) were used for this review. The selected articles present the main risk factors related to the secondary fungal co-infections establishment in COVID-19 patients.

Results: the corticosteroid therapy use to combat inflammation caused by SARS-CoV-2 has been shown to be strongly associated with mucormycosis and aspergillosis establishment. Mucormycosis has been the main fungal co-infection related to corticosteroid therapy, causing a greater number of deaths in COVID-19 patients. Diabetes mellitus was the most prevalent comorbidity, mainly for the mucormycosis establishment. The dexamethasone use seems to be associated with the mucormycosis emergence and to death. However, aspergillosis showed a greater relationship with patient recovery. Thus, risk factors such as diabetes mellitus, combined with corticosteroids use, have shown a relationship to the mucormycosis establishment.

Conclusion: the corticosteroids use in COVID-19 patients should be individually analyzed, taking into account mainly the patient's medical history and the risk/benefit ratio of the use of these drugs.

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Published

2023-03-03

How to Cite

1.
Ferreira do Amaral T, Monteiro da Silva Rodrigues Coutinho N, do Nascimento Fuentefria R, Meneghello Fuentefria A, da Rosa Monte Machado G. Corticosterapy associated to COVID-19: An allied or a risk factor for the secundary fungal co-infections establishment?. Clin Biomed Res [Internet]. 2023 Mar. 3 [cited 2026 Aug. 9];42(4). Available from: https://seer.ufrgs.br/index.php/hcpa/article/view/124623

Issue

Vol. 42 No. 4 (2022): Clinical and Biomedical Research

Section

Review Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2022 Thaís Ferreira do Amaral, Natália Monteiro da Silva Rodrigues Coutinho, Rubia do Nascimento Fuentefria, Alexandre Meneghello Fuentefria, Gabriella da Rosa Monte Machado Machado

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