Mucor Mycosis Associated with COVID-19: A Case Series at a Tertiary Care Center in India.

COVID-19 patients across the globe have been reporting several post-COVID health conditions such as respiratory, vascular, cardiac and renal complications and opportunistic infections; the most common of which has been fungal infections.

The objective of our study was to identify socio-demographic characteristics, risk factors, clinical parameters, site of involvement and outcome of patients with COVID-19 associated Mucor Mycosis (CAM) at a tertiary care centre in Rewa (Madhya Pradesh, India),

This was a prospective observational study, conducted between 1st May to 30th June 2021; including 40 patients who had Mucor Mycosis with recent or active COVID-19. The data was collected using a structured data collection form by trained interviewers who were already working in Mucor Mycosis Ward.

The overall mean and median age of the patients was 50.8 years and 52.5 years respectively, with majority of the males (72.5%). Of total, 47.5% patients had active COVID-19, whereas 50% had recent COVID-19 infection. Twenty-two patients (55%) had co-morbidities, among whom the majority had underlying diabetes mellitus (50%). History of Oxygen supplementation and use of steroids was found in 75% and 45% of the patients respectively. History of self-consumption of decoction (Kadha) and self-administration of inhalation drugs was found among 22 (80%) and 8 (20%) patients respectively. Twnty-one patients (52.5%) had gone through operative procedure/ intervention and 11 (27.5%) patients received conservative treatment. In terms of outcome, 20 patients (50%) had been successfully discharged, followed by 14 deaths (35%), 3 referrals (7.5%) to the higher centres and 3 readmissions (7.5%).

Addictions and Indian traditional therapies might have played crucial role in occurrence of CAM. In addition, although Oxygen supplementation and steroid consumption have been life-saving against COVID-19, yet might be responsible for acute surge in CAM cases.