<p class="abstract">Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a threat to the global health caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The lungs are the primary site of infection in COVID-19 patient and the symptoms ranges from mild flu like manifestations to fulminant pneumonia and respiratory failure. COVID-19 infection also significantly affects the oral cavity and salivary glands with oral mucosal manifestations. Other than airway manifestations, COVID-19 patients are presenting with oral cavity lesions such as aphthous like ulcers, glossitis, oral mucositis or stomatitis, oral candidiasis and herpetic recurrences. These oral lesions are often associated with immunocompromised patients and elderly age. Direct involvement of the SARS-CoV-2 virus for development of oral ulcers remains uncertain. The salivary gland related symptoms and taste disturbances are highly common in COVID-19 patients. In COVID-19 patient, certain presentations like ulcers or blisters or diffuse reddish lesions affect both keratinized and non-keratinized tissues of the oral cavity. These lesions are found in palate, lip mucosa, buccal mucosa and tongue. The ulceration and blisters of the oral cavity are more often seen. There is still a gap of knowledge related to the oral manifestations of the COVID-19 infections and its impact on the oral cavity. This review article discussed the details of the oral cavity lesions in COVID-19 patients.</p>

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This short-term observational study of infection control practice was performed in the medical emergency outpatient department (EMOPD) of a tertiary-care hospital in India when threatened by an outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). An investigator attended the lobby daily to screen patients with symptoms for SARS. Patient/attendant load, patient flow, medical staff working practices and position in the EMOPD were observed. Infection control measures such as fumigation and cleaning were noted, as was the EMOPD laboratory function, use of personnel protection and display of information on infectious diseases. A total of 162 (7.4%) of the 2165 patients surveyed had respiratory symptoms but no cases of SARS were found. The flow of patients and their attendants was not systematic. No laboratory tests for SARS were available, and no educational material on SARS was displayed. The EMOPDs in key hospitals need be able to screen for infectious diseases, especially in view of the threats from SARS and Avian influenza.

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Aim: Mucormycosis is a rare but severe fungal infection, particularly found in immunocompromised patients. Currently this dreaded mucormycosis is rising among COVID-19 paediatric patients during their treatment period or after their discharge from hospital. It is also called as black fungus. The aim of this study is to evaluate the COVID-19 associated mucormycosis (CAM) in head and neck region of the paediatric patients with its clinical manifestations and management. Material and methods: This is a descriptive and prospective study of paediatric patients with COVID-19 associated mucormycosis (CAM) carried out at a postgraduate teaching hospital. This study was conducted between March 2020 to April 2021. Patient profile such as age, sex, comorbidities, clinical presentations, diagnosis and treatment of the CAM were analysed. There were 12 paediatric patients of CAM were enrolled in this study. Results: Out of 12 paediatric patients of CAM, there were eight male and four female patients, aged from 3 years to 16 years. Out of the 12 patients, 3 were diabetic (25%). Three patients (25%) were taking prolonged systemic steroids with prolonged hospital ICU stay. Two children (16.66%) were under chemotherapy for acute leukaemia. The common clinical symptoms were facial swelling, facial pain, nasal block and nasal discharge. Diagnosis was confirmed by histological examination. All were treated with endoscopic surgical debridement and amphotericin B. Two patients were passed away; one was due to cerebral involvement and another was due to respiratory failure by pneumonia. Conclusions: Early identification and prompt treatment in paediatric patients with CAM are required. Aggressive endoscopic surgical debridement for local control and appropriate systemic antifungal treatment will help to improve the prognosis and survival of the patients.

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a global threat due to either improper diagnosis or overuse of antibiotics. Head and neck infections (HNI) are serious diseases that involve several species of microorganisms. Common complications of HNI developing through bacterial colonization that leads to airway obstruction, pus collection, and sepsis. During this study, we collected 264 clinical samples (2020–2022) from Odisha, a state of eastern India to investigate bacterial communities associated with HNI followed by their antibiotic susceptibility characteristics, and the evaluation of their diversity by comparing with global isolates. We found 218 positive bacterial isolates and 25 multidrug-resistant bacteria, and accomplished their molecular characterization along with phylogenetic analysis utilizing the 16S rRNA gene. Population genetic parameters revealed the haplotype diversity (Hd) and nucleotide diversity (π) ranged from0.558-0.828 and 0.03236-0.28428 respectively. This study helps to disseminate the prevalence of these neglected pathogens within this rarely focused geographical area and its transboundary potential to navigate better therapeutic approaches.