Mucormycosis in COVID-19 Pandemic: Study Involving Tertiary Hospitals in Aurangabad District, India

Abstract

Introduction: An abrupt increase in the mucormycosis patients in india during the COVID 19 pandemic was observed. A collective study was conducted in tertiary care hospitals in Aurangabad. Materials and Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted in Aurangabad (Maharashtra), in association with the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), oralcare.co.in and SNDH Hospital, Aurangabad. Data was collected by AMC from 3 major tertiary hospitals present in Aurangabad where treatment of Mucormycosis was done from May 2021 to July 2021. The data of total 135 patients with Mucormycosis was received by the AMC were included in the study. It included demographics of the patients, medical and clinical history, history of COVID 19, treatment of COVID 19, type of Mucormycosis, treatment and outcomes of Mucormycosis. Results: In the present study, 74.7% of Mucormycosis patients were males. 77.4% of Mucormycosis patients were above 50 years of age. It was seen that about 67% of patients with Mucormycosis had diabetes mellitus as the most common risk factor. About 87.4% of patients had a history of COVID-19. Majority of the patients in the study population were diagnosed with the rhino-maxillary-orbital type of Mucormycosis which is 39%, followed by the rhino-cerebral type-25%. Only 1% patients showed rhiono-nasal -orbital type of Mucormycosis. 30% patients were not categorised into any type. All the patients in the study population received amphotericin B and surgical treatment. About 84.4% patients were discharged after the Mucormycosis treatment. 15.6% patients died during or after the treatment. Conclusion: Mucormycosis was predominantly seen in male above the age of 50 years, COVID-19 infection and diabetes mellitus was common risk factor for Mucormycosis.