Agents of mucormycosis outbreak associated with COVID-19

ABSTRACT

Mucormycosis is a life-threatening infection. Mucormycetes causes a wide range of diseases, including pneumonia, rhinosinusitis, internal organ spread, gastrointestinal tract involvement, and skin and soft tissue infection. It infects predominantly with hematological malignancies, transplantation, immunocompromised, and diabetes mellitus patients. The most severe type of the disease is a disseminated disease, which is linked to significant immunosuppression. Currently, this disease is more prevalent in the COVID-19 pandemic because of erroneous steroid use and untreated diabetes. However, there is a scarcity of study and information on the COVID-19 and mucormycosis connection. According to the latest research, mucormycosis cases are rising in developed and developing nations, and only a few therapies are available. The exact burden of mucormycosis is unclear;however, it is likely to be greater than recorded instances due to mucormycosis epidemiological changes. As a result of the delay in identifying this severe illness, appropriate antifungal medications are delayed, resulting in significant morbidity and death. A few drugs are underclinical trials for their efficacy. Other obstacles to treat patients are lack of reliable diagnostic non-invasive tests. This review article draws the attention of its readers and clinicians towards the agents of mucormycosis and discuss the various cases to manage this fungal infection.