Two Patients Die Of Aspergillus Lentulus, New Drug-Resistant Fungus Strain, At AIIMS: Report

The two patients (one in his late 50s and the other in his early 40s) had the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a lung illness that makes it difficult to breathe.

Representational Image. (Source: Getty Images)

New Delhi: Two patients died as a result of the presence of Aspergillus lentulus, a 'pathogen that causes invasive aspergillosis with significant death rates,' according to officials at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi.

The two patients, one in his late 50s and the other in his early 40s, had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a lung illness that makes it difficult to breathe, reports Times of India.

What Is Aspergillus Lentulus

According to open-source medical literature, Aspergillus lentulus is a human pathogen that causes infection in the lungs and has a high fatality rate.  While cases have been recorded in the past from other nations, experts believe this is the first time this type of Aspergillus has been detected in India.

A lentulus is an Aspergillus species that was originally discovered in 2005, according to research published on the National Center for Biotechnology Information website.

The species generated invasive illness and was characterised by 'decreased susceptibilities to several antifungal treatments,' according to researchers.

What Is Aspergillus Fungus

Aspergillus fungus is found in soil and degraded materials all over the world, and its species are one of the most common causes of invasive mould diseases.

Spores in the air mostly impact immunocompromised people, those with blood cancer conditions, people who have just had bone marrow or organ transplants, and so on.

The fungus has also been connected to persons who had previously tested positive for the virus as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rampage.

Covid-19 Virus & Fungal Infections:

Patients become extremely prone to fungal infections after the COVID-19 virus has impacted the immune system. As a result, since the outbreak began, researchers have reported instances of 'COVID-19–associated pulmonary aspergillosis.'

The numerous COVID-19 therapies (such as dexamethasone or tocilizumab) can affect the immune system, according to a 2020 research report published on the NCBI website.

Corticosteroid use, chronic cardiovascular disease, renal failure, diabetes mellitus, and obesity were all frequent among the patients, according to the study.