Disseminated cryptococcosis in a geriatric man following high-dose systemic steroid therapy for severe COVID-19 pneumonia.

An 88-year-old man was treated with high-dose systemic steroid therapy for COVID-19 and idiopathic interstitial pneumonia months before admission to the hospital because of swelling and redness in his left arm. Cryptococcus neoformans was detected in his blood sample on day eight of admission, and despite antifungal therapy, he died on day 43. Clinicians should be vigilant about the risk of prolonged immunosuppression as a side effect of high-dose systemic steroid usage for COVID-19.