A Case Series of Eight Mucormycosis Patients during SARS-CoV-2 –Pandemic

Hedyieh Karbasforooshan; Batool Zarei; Mahdi Jannati; Ghazaleh Elahabadi; Sepideh Elyasi; Ali Akbar Heydari

doi:10.18502/jpc.v11i3.16014

Hedyieh Karbasforooshan Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Batool Zarei Department of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Mahdi Jannati Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Ghazaleh Elahabadi Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Sepideh Elyasi Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Ali Akbar Heydari Department of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jpc.v11i3.16014

Keywords: COVID-19; Fugal Infection; Mucormycosis

Abstract

The outbreak of opportunistic fungal infections such as mucormycosis has been a critical issue following coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). Mucormycosis is happened by the fungal group Mucorales and commonly affects immunocompromised patients. To date, COVID-19-associated mucormycosis (CAM) is being reported in several countries. It should be noted that CAM has been started in patients approximately within two to three weeks after the onset of COVID-19. However, here, in one case, fungal symptoms appeared after just one week. In patients with mucormycosis due to this enigmatic infection, the sinuses were most commonly affected, followed by the orbit, nose, and finally the brain. All cases received glucocorticoids as a part of viral therapy. Diabetes mellitus (DM) was reported in all but one case in which COVID-19 was detected, without complications, and this may be the sole predisposing agent. Therefore, in this manuscript, we reported eight cases of COVID-19-induced mucormycosis. Although one case experienced evacuation of the right eye, others discharge with promising outcomes after receiving surgical debridement and proper anti-fungal treatment including, amphotericin B, caspofungin, and posaconazole.