A Case Series on COVID-19 Associated Mucormycosis (CAM): Experience from a Tertiary Care Centre in India

Abstract

Aim: During the second wave of the COVID 19 pandemic, a life threatening fungal infection, mucormycosis have been detected in patients post COVID 19 disease. Commonly known as the ‘black fungus’ can causes tissue necrosis, inflammation and necrosis of the head and neck regions, paranasal sinuses, facial bones, orbits and it can also cause intracranial spread. In the current study we describe a series of cases of COVID 19 associated mucormycosis (CAM), the clinical presentations, risk factors, diagnosis, management and follow up experience from a tertiary care centre in India. Methods: This is a retrospective observational study conducted over a period of one year (April 2021 to April 2022) at our tertiary care centre. The diagnosis of COVID 19 was done by RT PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction). The diagnosis of Mucormycosis was done by Histopathology and fungal cultures. The demographic details of the patients were retrieved from the medical records. Results: In the present study we report four cases of Rhino-orbital-cerebral Mucormycosis, three cases of Rhino-orbital Mucormycosis, two cases of Pulmonary Mucormycosis and one case of Disseminated Mucormycosis. All the patients had undergone extensive surgical debridement and received Liposomal Amphotericin B as initial antifungal medication and Posaconazole or Isavuconazole as step down therapy. Six patients responded to treatment while four patients did not have a favorable outcome and succumbed to the illness.   Conclusion: Mucormycosis is a deadly disease with high mortality and morbidity if not diagnosed and treated at an early stage. Factors like poor control of blood sugars, inadvertent use of corticosteroids, immune dysfunction due to COVID 19 can result in poor outcome of the disease despite aggressive treatment interventions.