Surge and Scare of Mucormycosis in the Backdrop of COVID-19 Pandemic
Published: March 1, 2022 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2022/53266.16088
Ooha Anyapu, Sreedevi Parvatini, Paparatnam Kalivarapu, Rajani Kuna, Jagadeeswari Suvvari
1. Postgraduate Student, Department of Pathology, Government Medical College, Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh, India.
2. Associate Professor and Incharge Head, Department of Pathology, Government Medical College, Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh, India.
3. Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, Government Medical College, Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh, India.
4. Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, Government Medical College, Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh, India.
5. Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, Government Medical College, Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Correspondence
Rajani Kuna,
Plot No: 343, Purushottham Nagar Colony, Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh, India.
E-mail: rajani2dss@gmail.com
Introduction: Mucormycosis is a rare opportunistic fungal infection. During the second wave of Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19), a remarkable increase in mucormycosis cases was observed. Diabetes mellitus is an independent risk factor for both mucormycosis and COVID-19.
Aim: To assess the incidence of mucormycosis cases in COVID-19 infected and non COVID-19 infected patients and also to assess the related co-morbid conditions during the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from 15th May 2021 to 15th July 2021 in the Department of Pathology, GGH/Government Medical College, Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh, India. The study included 63 cases of mucor suspects. The parameters analysed in this study were age, sex, COVID-19 status, co-morbidities, steroid status and radiological findings. A descriptive analysis was made from the data obtained. The information was analysed in data spreadsheets using Microsoft office excel 2010.
Results: Out of total 63 mucor suspects, 60 (95.2%) cases tested positive for COVID-19 and 44 (73.3%) cases of them received corticosteroid treatment. Mean age group of 41-50 years with 27 (42.8%) cases with a male preponderance of 49 (77.7%) cases was noted. The most common identified risk factor was diabetes mellitus seen in 22 (34.9%) cases and diabetes associated with hypertension in 14 (22.2%) of the cases. Mucormycosis fungal hyphae were noted in 49 (77.7%) of cases on routine histopathological examination stain and 47 (74.6%) of the cases by special stains for confirmation.
Conclusion: In the present study, it was observed that mucormycosis infection was most commonly seen in COVID-19 infected patients in post COVID-19 phase and also in minority of non COVID-19 infected cases with prior debilitating conditions. Therefore, it was concluded that, mucormycosis was positively associated with COVID-19 infected patients who have co-morbidities like diabetes mellitus and history of steroid usage.
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