Exploring the globe salvaging treatment options in patients of COVID-19-associated mucormycosis with orbital involvement.

Purpose: To explore the various globe salvaging treatment strategies for patients with coronavirus disease 2019-associated mucormycosis (CAM). Methods: This was a prospective: interventional analytical study conducted at a Medical College in rural India. A total of 84 patients of CAM admitted between May 2021 and August 2021 were enrolled for the study. Patients with histologically proven CAM with clinical and/or radiological evidence of orbital involvement were divided into three treatment categories based on the site and extent of the lesion. Re-assessment was performed after 7 days. For patients who worsened with the primary approach, orbital exenteration was considered based on a Sion Hospital Scoring System. A novel approach to intra-orbital anti-fungal therapy, site-centered peri-bulbar injection of amphotericin B (SCPeriAmB), was also explored. All the patients were followed up for at least 3 months. Convenience sampling with descriptive statistics was used. Results: Six patients had to finally undergo exenteration by the end of the study period. The rest of the patients were reported to be stable or improved. No mortalities were reported on delaying the exenteration. No adverse events were noted in patients who were given SCPeriAmB. Conclusion: Globe salvaging treatment options should be advocated as a primary approach in patients with CAM. Site-centered peri-bulbar injections can be considered as an approach for delivering intra-orbital anti-fungal therapy in selected patients.

Rhino-orbital mucormycosis in a patient with no susceptibility following P.vivax malaria infection-a case report.

BACKGROUND: Mucormycosis is a potentially lethal, angioinvasive fungal infection caused by the Mucoracea family comprising Mucor, Rhizopus, and Absidia species. It is commonly associated with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, the use of corticosteroids, immunosuppressive drugs, and Covid-19 infection. The occurrence of mucormycosis in an immunocompetent patient is rare. Also, only a few case reports have been published where patients developed mucormycosis with associated malarial infection. CASE PRESENTATION: A young female presented with a 3-weeks history of painful swelling and outward protrusion of the right eye with complete loss of vision. She had a history of P.vivax malaria two weeks before her ocular symptoms. On ocular examination, there was proptosis and total ophthalmoplegia with loss of corneal sensations in the right eye. Hematological examination revealed normocytic normochromic anemia and thrombocytopenia. MRI was suggestive of right-sided pansinusitis and orbital cellulitis with right superior ophthalmic vein thrombosis and bulky cavernous sinus. Nasal biopsy was negative for fungal culture. An emergency surgical debridement of all the sinuses was done with right orbital exenteration. Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of mucormycosis and the patient improved post-operatively on systemic antifungals. CONCLUSION: Such an association of mucormycosis with malaria infection is rarely reported in the literature and is hypothesized to be a result of immunosuppression caused by malaria. Also, emphasis is laid upon having a high index of suspicion for fungal infection in the setting of pansinusitis even if the risk factors are absent. We hereby report a case of rhino-orbital mucormycosis following P.vivax malaria in a 20-year-old female with anemia and thrombocytopenia.

A case of endogenous candida endophthalmitis with incidental cytomegalovirus infection and optic neuropathy in a patient recovered from severe COVID-19.

A 62-year-old female diabetic recovered from COVID-19 pneumonia after receiving a prolonged course of steroids. She presented with a clinical picture of left-eye panuveitis with white cotton ball chorioretinal lesions and RAPD suggesting an optic neuropathy (VA HM). Diagnostic vitrectomy was performed to take samples for infective screen and to give intravitreal voriconazole empirically. Smear, culture, and PCR for viral DNA confirmed mixed infection of endogenous Candida endophthalmitis and incidental CMV infection. With further treatment, her corrected vision improved to 6/18 with regressing fungal lesions in serial fundus photographs. Prompt diagnosis and intervention preserved her vision and prevented potential life-threatening complications.

Clinico-Radiological-Pathological Correlation of Visual Loss in COVID-Associated Rhino-Orbito-Cerebral Mucormycosis.

PURPOSE: To correlate the clinical, radiological, and histopathological features in Covid-associated Rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis cases presenting with acute visual loss. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: Covid-associated Rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis cases with unilateral visual loss, planned for exenteration, underwent orbital and ophthalmological ocular examination. The available radiological sequences, doppler ultrasonography and histopathology findings were correlated with clinical manifestations. RESULTS: The median age was 51 years and the male: female ratio was 3:1. All except one presented with unilateral ophthalmoplegia. The ocular media were hazy in 2 eyes. In 8 eyes, retinal changes were suggestive of occlusion of CRA (6), combined occlusion of CRA and central retinal vein (1), and myopic degeneration with hypertensive retinopathy (1). The contralateral eye showed retinal ischemic changes in one patient. Radiological imaging showed orbital apex involvement in the 10 affected eyes and one contralateral eye. Ipsilateral cavernous sinus thrombosis, diffusion restriction on MRI of optic nerve, internal carotid artery narrowing/thrombosis, and cortical watershed infarcts were seen in 8, 4, 4, and 2 cases, respectively. The blood flow in CRA and ophthalmic artery was absent or reduced in all the 10 affected eyes and in 1 contralateral eye. On histopathology, orbital fat necrosis, fungal hyphae, acute inflammation, granuloma formation, ischemic thrombosis of ophthalmic artery was observed in 10 specimens. CRA was patent in 9 and thrombosed in 1 eye. Optic nerve was ischemic in 8 and viable in 2 eyes. CONCLUSION: Acute visual loss in ROCM cases is associated with orbital apex involvement and thrombotic ischemia of ophthalmic artery. Cessation of flow in CRA possibly occurs secondary to ophthalmic artery thrombosis.