Sarocladium implicatum: an unusual agent of opportunistic infection in a COVID-19 patient

Abstract

Sarocladium spp. are filamentous fungi commonly associated with plant diseases and only rarely cause hyalohyphomycosis in humans. Immunosuppressed patients are at risk for this infection, which typically presents with skin and subcutaneous lesions that may eventually disseminate to internal organs. This study reports a case of a man in intensive care following SARS-CoV-2 infection. During hospitalization, he developed neutropenia, persistent fever, and a cavitary lung lesion. Sarocladium spp. was isolated from blood cultures, and the patient was treated with voriconazole, leading to a successful cure. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of Sarocladium implicatum infection in a COVID-19 patient, underscoring the importance of monitoring opportunistic fungal infections in immunocompromised individuals, particularly during epidemics and pandemics.