Black Fungus (Mucormycosis) Research in India during 1998-2021: A Scopus-based Scientometric Analysis

Abstract

Introduction: Mucormycosis is a well-researched infection worldwide. The Indian contribution to global Mucormycosis research remains unevaluated. Materials and Methods: Elsevier's Scopus database was used to retrieve Indian publications on mucormycosis during 1998-2021. The extracted data were analyzed in terms of the number of publications, citation metrics, top productive organizations and authors, research collaborations, and active journals, using appropriate bibliometric tools. Results: India produced 799 publications on mucormycosis during 1998-2021. The publications grew at 8.5% annually and 175.1% cumulatively and received on average 9.6 citations per paper (CPP). Only 8.7% of publications involved international collaboration. The most researched types of mucormycosis were pulmonary and gastrointestinal, while diabetes mellitus and diabetic ketoacidosis were the top risk factors studied. Most of the research focused on clinical studies and treatment, while genetics was the least researched aspect of mucormycosis. The top 20 of the 294 organizations and 384 authors that participated in research contributed 59.7% and 29.4% to the total national output, and 97.3% and 76.2% to total citations, respectively. The most productive organizations were PGIMER-Chandigarh, AIIMS-New Delhi, and CMC-Vellore, and the most prolific authors were A. Chakrabarti, M.R. Shivprakash, and J. Chander. Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Mycosis, and BMJ Case Reports were the high-yielding journals, whereas Medical Mycology, Mycosis, and Journal of Postgraduate Medicine were the most impactful. Conclusion: Indian research in mucormycosis has shown consistent growth during 1998-2021. There is, however, a need to improve on collaborative research and focus on emerging areas such as the genetics of mucormycosis.

Scientometric Mapping of Mucormycosis Research in Relation to the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Our analysis revealed that the COVID-19 related mucormycosis research was mainly carried out in the low-and middle-income countries, unlike research in several other medical fields during COVID-19 pandemic or even during pre-COVID-19 times, which shows domination by highincome countries of North America or Western Europe. [21][22][23][24][30][31][32] This is understandable as the low-or middle-income countries were particularly hit by the dual burden of COVID-19 and CAM. 6,7 But even while the productivity of organizations and authors from low-and middle-income countries was substantial, it was the high-income countries such as France and the USA that led in CAM research impact.…”

“…21,22 Similarly, recent analyses of mucormycosis research included publications before the global surge in CAM infections. [23][24][25] Two other bibliometric studies that focussed on CAM and included publications till May and August 2021, respectively, provided analyses of 154 and 51 publications only, far lower than would be expected of an intensely researched topic. 26,27 Thus a comprehensive mapping of CAM research is still lacking.…”

Covid-19 and Type 1 Diabetes: A Scientometric Assessment of Global Publications based on the Scopus Database

“…Such an assessment is done using bibliometric methods that allow the identification of research lacunae, prevailing trends, and hotspots. 9,10 In addition, bibliometry also helps identify researchers and organizations in a particular research field and thus can facilitate cooperation between them, leading to more impactful research. 11 Previous bibliometric studies on Covid-19 concerning diabetes did not include separate analyses on T1D.…”