ABSTRACT
Background: Mucormycosis is a fungal infection caused by filaments of Mucoraceae which invades blood vessels culminating in a lethal opportunistic infection. During the second wave of COVID-19, all over India a spurt of increased reporting of Mucoraecea infection was experienced. Compromised individual immunity system was suspected. Its early diagnosis and suitable surgical intervention were essential to decrease morbidity and mortality. Aim of the Study: To study the demography, clinical features, risk factors, laboratory investigations, and radiological findings of patients with mucormycosis and to evaluate the clinical outcomes in each case. Materials: A cross sectional study from the Department of ENT of Government Medical College Hospital, Ongole;350 COVID-19 RT-PCR positive patients presented with clinical symptoms and signs of Mucormycosis between February 2021 and February 2022 were analyzed. All age groups and genders were included. Mucormycosis proved on microscopic examination of the aspirate or histopathologies of tissue specimens were included. Clinical findings, risk factors, comorbidities, outcome of the disease, biochemical and hematological investigations, radiological signs, nature of fungal elements isolated, treatment instituted were noted. Surgical procedures included were Functional Endoscopic sinus surgery, extended Endoscopic sinus surgery, Medial maxillectomy, ethmoidectomy, Sphenoid exploration, frontal sinusotomy, Orbital exenteration and Skull base surgeries. Antifungal treatment consisted of administration of liposomal Amphotericin B and posaconazole. Result(s): 350 patients included in this study;268/350 (76.57%) males and 82/350 (23.42%) females with a male to female ratio of 3.26:1. 211 (60.28%) patients living in rural areas and 139 (39.71%) living in the urban areas. 324 (92.57%) patients were positive for COVID-19 (RT-PCR) test and 26 patients were negative. There were 233 (66.57%) patients who were obese with more than 30 BMI index and 117 (33.42%) who were with less than 30 BMI index. 299 (85.42%) patients were diabetic and 51 (14.57%) patients were non diabetic. Vaccination was taken 188 (53.71%) of the patients and not taken by 162 (46.28%) of the patients. Mortality rate was 09/350 (02.57%). It was observed that the variables such as Living area, COVID-19 (RT-OCR) test positivity, obesity, Diabetes mellitus and usage of steroids were significantly associated with Mucormycosis in this study. Conclusion(s): Mucormycosis was found to be common in males, from the rural areas. Other significant risk factors for Mucormycosis were COVID-19 (RT-OCR) test positivity, obesity, Diabetes mellitus and usage of steroids. The most common clinical symptoms and signs among were nasal obstruction with noisy breathing, blood stained nasal discharge, headache, periorbital swelling, reduced vision, Ptosis, external ophthalmoplegia, and facial pains were common. Surgical management reduced the morbidity and mortality of Mucormycosis in this study.Copyright © 2023, Dr Yashwant Research Labs Pvt Ltd. All rights reserved.