Post COVID Mucormycosis: A Cross Sectional Study at a Designated COVID Hospital in Central India

Background: The second wave of Covid19 beginning in March 2021proved to be more devastating with more infections and mortality. With this wave another crisis of Post Covid mucormycosis caused by mold fungi emerged as a matter of great concern. Aims: 1.To carry out preliminary observational study of post COVID Mucormycosis with regards to clinical, radiological findings. 2. To know association of post covid mucormycosis with risk factors/comorbidities. 3. To study histopathology findings in post covid mucormycosis cases. 4. To report association of other fungal infections with mucormycosis (mixed infections) on histopathology. Material and Methods: This is retrospective cross sectional study of post Covid Mucormycosis conducted in a tertiary care hospital from May 2021 to August 2021 including 132 cases. Analysis of data pertaining to Covid status, demographics, clinical features, co-morbidities, laboratory investigations, surgical procedure and histopathology was done in clinically suspected patients of Covid 19. Results: All caseshad antecedent risk factors like diabetes mellitus (32),hypertension (12) and systemic corticosteroids administration (65) with some overlap. In 95 cases, infection was limited to paranasal sinuses. Extension beyond paranasal sinuses was seen 14 cases. Surgical debridement was the mainstay of treatment and was done in 109 cases. Histopathological examination revealed necro-inflammatory reaction in 86 cases, giant cell reaction in 21 cases, angioinvasion in 4 cases, neuroinvasion in 1 case and mixed infection with other fungi in 6 cases. Conclusion: High index of suspicion is very essential for the diagnosis of mucormycosis in post-COVID-19 patients especially patients with high risk factors to reduce the morbidity and mortality. Histopathologic examination can confirm the diagnosis and can help to prognosticate the condition.