Mucormycosis in COVID-19 Pandemic

Background and objective: Mucormycosis is a deadly opportunistic fungal infection. Recently mucormycosis made severe chaos in India during the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic (between April and June 2021). Our aim was to delineate the clinico-epidemiological profile and identify risk factors of mucormycosis patients presenting to VIMSAR, Burla. Materials and methods: A prospective, cross sectional study of suspected mucormycosis patients presented to VIMSAR, Burla was done. Samples were collected with all aseptic precaution. KOH mount and fungal culture was done for confirmation of mucormycosis. Result and discussion: During study period of May 2021 to November 2021 147 samples for suspected mucormycosis was received in microbiology department of VIMSAR, Burla. Out of 147 samples 19 were KOH mount positive, 37 were culture positive and 15 were both KOH mount and culture positive. 80% were male and 20% were post COVID. The most commonly seen risk factor was diabetes. 60% nasal sample and 40% sputum sample were found positive. Among isolated positive culture reports 60% Rhizopus species, 6% Aspergillus species and 33% Candida species were found. 4 deaths have been recorded. Conclusion: From our study we concluded that diabetes is the main risk factor for mucormycosis. A multidisciplinary approach is essential to improve the conditions facilitating the emergence of mucormycosis during COVID-19 pandemic.