Rising Incidence of Post Covid Rhinocerebral Mucormycosis: An Otolaryngologists Prospective

Mucormycosis or grimmer popular name, black fungus has evolved public concern in context of covid-19 pandemic, Covid Associated Mucormycosis (CAM) seen in Covid-19 pandemic and as a post covid sequelae. The present study was conducted to find out the incidence of the Mucormycosis, and to study its association with post-covid status and co-morbidities. A retrospective study conducted at tertiary care centre over a period of four months, involving all patients with mucormycosis of the paranasal sinuses suffering from or having a history of coronavirus disease. 59 patients had CAM, 47 patients had rhino-orbital Mucormycosis, followed by nasal and paranasal Mucormycosis in 8 patients, 3 patients with rhino-orbital-cerebral Mucormycosis, and one patient with pulmonary Mucormycosis. Diabetes mellitus was present in all 59 patients, 60.41% who had HbA1c > 10 (range 7-15), and 39.58% had HbA1c < 10 with range 6-13. Only 8.33% had controlled diabetes status, uncontroled hypertension and diabetes was seen in 34.02%. All patients were started with IV amphotericin B anti-fungal drug, and followed by oral posaconazole. Depending upon the extent of the disease surgical debridement was done in 52 patients. All patients had history of steroid intake. 7 mortality was there. Uncontrolled diabetes, over-zealous use of steroids, uncontrolled underlying primary disease or co-morbidities, prolonged hospitalization in intensive care unit or normal wards, and hyperventilation all these factors together aggravated the CAM. So it's proper management based on, prompt diagnosis, reversal of predisposing condition with proper medical and aggressive surgical debridement remain the corner stone for this deadly CAM.

Automated summary

This study aimed to investigate the incidence of Mucormycosis (black fungus) in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and its association with post-COVID status and co-morbidities. A retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary care center over four months, involving patients with Mucormycosis of the paranasal sinuses who had or have a history of coronavirus disease. Of the 59 patients, 47 had rhino-orbital Mucormycosis, 8 had nasal and paranasal Mucormycosis, 3 had rhino-orbital-cerebral Mucormycosis, and 1 had pulmonary Mucormycosis. All patients had diabetes mellitus, with poorly controlled diabetes and steroid use being contributing factors to the severity of the infection. Prompt diagnosis, reversal of predisposing conditions, and aggressive surgical debridement were essential for effective management of this deadly fungal infection.