Mucormycosis following COVID-19 infection-An epidemic developing in a pandemic, a case series from a tertiary care hospital of India

Abstract

When the world is still struggling to fight the Coronavirus disease-19 pandemic, an epidemic of mucormycosis following the COVID-19 infection is increasing in India. Mucormycosis is a rare life-threatening fungal infection with a high mortality rate. Is this increase due to the rampant usage of corticosteroids, some immune dysfunction in COVID-19, uncontrolled blood sugar, increased ferritin, use of industrial oxygen, use of unsterile mask, or use of unsterile water as a humidifier in oxygen delivery systems? This remains a question. In this case series, we present five cases of rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis which followed after the COVID-19 infection in these patients. We have included patients' clinical, laboratory, and radiological data in this case series and reviewed the literature.

Keywords

• covid-19
• diabetes
• mortality
• mucormycosis