Kluyveromyces marxianus

Background: The current pandemic due to SARS-CoV-2 has caused a high burden on health. Cases and series of invasive aspergillosis associated with COVID-19 patients (CAPA) on mechanical ventilation have been described. Aim: To describe the increase in the positivity of the galactomannan (GM) biomarker during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Fifth Region: Valparaíso. Method: Retrospective descriptive study. The GM results in both bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and serum and the BAL cultures that were sent to the Mycology Laboratory of the University of Valparaíso from January to September 2020 were reviewed; then they were compared with the examinations of the same period of 2019. Results: There was a significant increase in GMs carried out in LBA during the pandemic, concentrating mainly between the months of July-September. Conclusions: There was a significant increase in GM carried out in LBA during the pandemic, concentrating mainly between the months of July-September.