AUTHOR=Domán Marianna , Bányai Krisztián 

TITLE=COVID-19-Associated Fungal Infections: An Urgent Need for Alternative Therapeutic Approach?

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.919501

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2022.919501

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>Secondary fungal infections may complicate the clinical course of patients affected by viral respiratory diseases, especially those admitted to intensive care unit. Hospitalized COVID-19 patients are at increased risk of fungal co-infections exacerbating the prognosis of disease due to misdiagnosis that often result in treatment failure and high mortality rate. COVID-19-associated fungal infections caused by predominantly <italic>Aspergillus</italic> and <italic>Candida</italic> species, and fungi of the order <italic>Mucorales</italic> have been reported from several countries to become significant challenge for healthcare system. Early diagnosis and adequate antifungal therapy is essential to improve clinical outcomes, however, drug resistance shows a rising trend highlighting the need for alternative therapeutic agents. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current knowledge on COVID-19-associated mycoses, treatment strategies and the most recent advancements in antifungal drug development focusing on peptides with antifungal activity.</p>