RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease remains a health concern with recent rise of opportunistic infections especially mucormycosis in COVID-19 patients. Mucormycosis is well known to infect patients with diabetes mellitus, malignancy, chemotherapy, and other immunocompromised conditions. The treatment of COVID19 largely remains systemic steroids and other immunomodulators that add to the risk of invasive fungal infection. METHODOLOGY: We included patients who presented with diagnosed mucormycosis by culture in month May and June 2021 and who were previously treated for COVID-19 in last three months of presentation (recent COVID-19) or currently being treated for COVID19 (active COVID-19). Information regarding possible risk factors, like diabetes mellitus, steroid intake, hypertension, lung disease, ICU stay and requirement of oxygen support were collected .RESULTS Overall, 41 cases of mucormycosis in people with COVID-19 have been reported. Mucormycosis was predominantly seen in 30 males (73.17%). Pre-existing diabetes mellitus (DM) was present in 31 patients (75.6%) of cases. Corticosteroid intake for the treatment of COVID-19 was recorded in 28 patients (68.29%) of cases. Pre-existing lung disease was in 6 patient ( 14.63%), ICU stay due to COVID was in 7 patient (17.07%) , Pre-existing hypertension was in 12 patient (29.26 )and oxygen support at the time of COVID in 18 patient (43.9%) CONCLUSION: An unholy trinity of diabetes, rampant use of corticosteroid in a background of COVID-19 appears to increase mucormycosis. All efforts should be made to maintain optimal glucose and only judicious use of corticosteroids in patients with COVID-19.