Corona-Associated Mucormycosis: Case Series Reports and Review of the Literature

• Published in: Journal of fungi (Basel) Vol. 10; no. 5; p. 305
• Main Authors: Fitero, Andreea, Negrut, Nicoleta, John, Harrie Toms, Ferician, Anca, Marian, Paula
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 01-05-2024
• Subjects: Antibiotics; black fungus; Comorbidity; COVID-19; Creatinine; Diabetes; Diabetic ketoacidosis; Disease; Edema; Fungi; Glucose; Headaches; Hospitals; Immunosuppression; Immunotherapy; Infections; Leukemia; Literature reviews; Medical imaging; Mortality; Mucorales; Mucormycosis; Nose; Pandemics; Pathogenesis; Patients; Posaconazole; Risk factors; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Sinuses; Steroids; Sulbactam; Type 2 diabetes; zygomycosis; Romania; India; COVID-19; black fungus; zygomycosis; Mucorales; mucormycosis
• ISSN: 2309-608X; 2309-608X
• DOI: 10.3390/jof10050305

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a significant increase in cases of mucormycosis was observed in COVID-19 patients, especially in India, but not exclusively. The presented cases highlight the heterogeneous nature of mucormycosis, emphasizing the importance of recognizing predisposing factors, such as immunosuppression, due to comorbidities or medication. Diagnosing mucormycosis poses a challenge due to nonspecific clinical manifestations, requiring a multidisciplinary approach for accurate diagnosis. Treatment involves a multi-pronged approach centered around the early initiation of antifungal therapy alongside surgical intervention and the management of underlying conditions, with an emphasis on controlling immunosuppression. Understanding the relationship between COVID-19 and predisposing factors for mucormycosis is fundamental for developing prevention and treatment strategies.