Critical Care Innovations (Dec 2021)
Abdominal wall fungal co-infection mucormycosis associated with COVID-19: a case report.
Abstract
The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has posed a public health system challenge across the globe. A retrospective analysis of COVID-19 globally surmises that the fungal co-infections associated with COVID-19 might be missed or misdiagnosed. However, data regarding all the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 are insufficient. The available few publications conclude that patients with COVID-19 have a higher susceptibility to fungal coinfections. Mucormycosis is a rare and often lifethreatening fungal disease characterized by vascular invasion by hyphae, resulting in thrombosis and necrosis. Based on the available data it seems COVID-19 patients, especially severely ill or immunocompromised, have a higher susceptibility to invasive mycoses. Therefore, it is important to assess the risk factors, the types of invasive mycosis, the strengths and limitations of diagnostic methods, clinical settings, and the need for standard or individualized treatment in COVID-19 patients. A 33 years old female operated case of laparoscopic ectopic removal with salpingectomy and tubectomy, at post-operative Day 5 had redness and pus discharge from the operative site and was diagnosed with abdominal wall cellulitis. She underwent local exploration and wound wash. At post operative day 5, the patient came to our emergency room with mild disorientation, cellulitis, and pain at the port insertion site. On examination, we highlight BP 90/50 mmg and blood test analysis with HB-8.3, leucocyte count 29.91×109/L, CRP 333mg/L. CT scan revealed necrotizing fasciitis. She then underwent wide local excision and debridement. Post debridement the next day during dressing, the wound showed a cotton fluffy appearance at the edges and part of the base with black necrotic areas. Wound swab was sent for fungal culture, KOH mount, blood culture, pus culture, and tissue for histopathology. In the meantime, she was started on empirical antifungal amphotericin B, meropenem and minocycline antibiotics. Covid antibodies test was done which were reactive: 1.96. Tissue histopathology revealed mucormycosis. A high degree of suspicion and promptness in starting antifungal prevented fatal outcome.
Keywords
