Rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis: An epidemiological study from a tertiary care referral center in Western India.

Purpose: Rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis (ROCM) is a rare opportunistic fungal infection with a fulminant course and an often fatal outcome. It can occur in immune-compromised patients such as those having uncontrolled diabetes, on long-term corticosteroid or immunosuppressive therapy, with COVID-19 infection, renal failure, AIDS, malignancy, or organ transplant. The aim of our study was to study the epidemiology of mucormycosis in COVID-19 patients and identify its risk factors.

Methods: Ours was an epidemiological study wherein we gathered the demographic, clinical, histopathological, and radiological data of 458 patients of mucormycosis who presented to us between August 2020 and May 2021. Mucormycosis was defined through clinical and radiological findings or positive culture reports.

Results: Out of all, 20.74% of patients did not have any past or concurrent history of COVID-19. The most common symptom of mucormycosis was orbital/facial pain (38.64%) and the most common sign was periocular/facial edema (50.74%). Mucormycosis involving the nose and sinuses (94.54%) was most common followed by rhino-orbital (45.41%) and brain involvement (10.04%). The most common risk factor for mucormycosis was diabetes [81.92%], followed by corticosteroid use [79.69%] and supplemental oxygen [48.90%]. Most of the patients received similar treatment with IV amphotericin B [88.64%] and local debridement [80.74%].

Conclusion: With the third wave of COVID-19 still lurking, a fatal fungal infection should be kept in mind in COVID-19 active as well as recovered patients, especially those who have co-morbid medical conditions such as uncontrolled diabetes and who are treated with large doses of corticosteroids.