A Clinical Analysis of COVID Associated Mucormycosis in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Background: With an increase in the spread of the pandemic, ailments related to the COVID illness started to appear. Patients with COVID -19 infection experienced a worse outcome with an increase in the prevalence of opportunistic infections in the infected person especially Mucormycosis. It was recognized that people with diabetes, cancer, patients undergoing chemotherapy and other immune-compromised conditions can develop Mucormycosis. Systemic steroids and other immune-modulating agents which are the mainstay of treatment for COVID-19 predisposes to the chance of developing invasive fungal infections.

Methodology: Here we provide a retrospective analysis in which out of 212 patients who were subjected to screening 13 individuals were KOH mount positive with unique clinical characteristics as well as demographic and therapeutic profile. The information was gathered retrospectively at a single facility that serves a sizable group of patients with varying severity of the Corona virus infection.

Results: Of the total in-patients taken into consideration 13 were diagnosed with mucormycosis post COVID-19 infection. The median age was greater among individuals who survived the infections (49.5 years) and those with severe COVID  had high chance of dying (23.8), with an overall mortality rate of 64.3 percent. Additionally 61.5 percent of patients had diabetes mellitus and 75% of them died. 11 patients (84.6%) had previously been on steroids for COVID-19. Both the individuals who survived and succumbed to the disease had same level of hyperglycemia.

Conclusion: The prevalence of mucormycosis among COVID-19 patients appears to be rising, which may be attributed to increasing usage of steroid, a potential immunocompromised state brought about by the virus per se and the co-morbid conditions. A high index of suspicion and early diagnosis is necessary to bring down the mortality rate This is in  addition to the preventive measures and sensible use of immune-modulators.