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

<p><strong>New Delhi: </strong>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.</p> <p>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.</p> <h4><strong>What Is Aspergillus Lentulus</strong></h4> <p>According to open-source medical literature, Aspergillus lentulus is a human pathogen that causes infection in the lungs and has a high fatality rate.&nbsp; 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.</p> <p>A lentulus is an Aspergillus species that was originally discovered in 2005, according to research published on the National Center for Biotechnology Information website.</p> <p>The species generated invasive illness and was characterised by 'decreased susceptibilities to several antifungal treatments,' according to researchers.</p> <h4><strong>What Is Aspergillus Fungus</strong></h4> <p>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.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>The fungus has also been connected to persons who had previously tested positive for the virus as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rampage.</p> <h4><strong>Covid-19 Virus &amp; Fungal Infections:</strong></h4> <p>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&ndash;associated pulmonary aspergillosis.'</p> <p>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.</p> <p>Corticosteroid use, chronic cardiovascular disease, renal failure, diabetes mellitus, and obesity were all frequent among the patients, according to the study.</p>

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