Pathophysiology of coronavirus disease 2019 for wound care professionals

There is pressing urgency to understand the pathogenesis of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) which causes Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19). The tissue tropism of SARS‐CoV‐2 includes not only the lung but also the vascular and integumentary systems. Angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) appears to be the key functional receptor for the virus. There is a prominent innate immune response to SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, including inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, the complement system, and acute phase proteins. The pathophysiologic significance of SARS‐COV‐2 and host immune system interaction, and COVID‐19‐associated coagulopathy instigating microvascular injury syndrome mediated by activation of complement pathways, and an associated procoagulant state is important for wound care professionals to understand.