Mucormycosis

Mucormycosis

Mucormycosis is commonly known as the black fungus is a type of fungal infection caused by Mucorales fungi.

Common Sources of Mucor 

  • From
  • Soil
  • Damp Wall

Pre-disposing / Risk factors are

  • immunocompromised status most recently likes in Covid 19
  • Long term Steroid use
  • Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus
  • Organ transplant immunosuppression

Mucormycosis and Zygomycosis has been used Interchangeably.

Types of Mucormycosis

  • Rhinocerebral:- Infection spread via the sinuses to the brain.
  • Pulmonary
  • Gastrointestinal mucormycosis
  • Cutaneous
  • Disseminated

In the present day scenario patients of Covid, 19 infections admitted in hospitals given Steroids with uncontrolled sugar levels,  requiring 0xygen, and already immunocompromised are getting infected with Mucormycosis. These patients are often found to have high Ferritin levels in the blood and also CRP is raised.

Signs and symptoms

  • History Covid 19 infection
  • Dental Pain
  • Eye Pain
  • crusting  in nose/nose dryness
  • Headache
  • Fever
  • Black lesion on the skin of nose and mouth

Diagnosis

Tissue biopsy is the mainstay in diagnosis along with imaging MRI with Gadolinium contrast.

Treatment

Surgical Debridement by an ENT surgeon via endoscopic approach as early as possible surgery injection amphotericin therapy for additional 4-6 weeks in a dose of 5-10 mg/kg day. Along with oral Posaconazole 300mg 1 day.

Prognosis depends upon the severity of the disease but the  Rhinocerebral form has mortality between 30 – 70%.