COVID-19 Second Wave with Mucormycosis, a Deadly Combination: A Systemic Review

Abstract

COVID-19 infection caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 may be related to an extensive range of disease patterns encompassing from mild to deadly pneumonia. At present COVID-19 pandemic situation, mucormycosis is spreading very fast and has become a severe problem for people who suffered and recovered from COVID-19. For the present study, databases of PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched and summarized. Low immunity, high use of corticosteroids, haematological malignancy and chemotherapy, poorly controlled diabetes, solid-organ transplant recipients on immunosuppressive therapy, on peritoneal dialysis, extensive skin injury, HIV infections predominantly provide suitable condition for infection of mucormycosis. This is especially challenging for people with hyperglycemia who are unable to manage their sugar levels during COVID-19. During the second wave of COVID-19, two forms of mucormycosis, rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis and pulmonary mucormycosis, have frequently been reported in active, recovering, or postdischarge COVID-19 patients. In maximum cases, lavage surgery may ultimately be mandatory to eradicate necrotic material on the skin. It can be treated with a proper antifungal treatment if the condition is detected at an early stage. In India, more than 51,775 cases of post-COVID-19 secondary infection of mucormycosis have been reported. There is no significant published data regarding coinfection in COVID-19 patients with systemic mycoses that led to serious difficulty and mortality till date. For general awareness of people, the present articles deal with COVID-19-associated high-risk coactive fungal infection, their mode of transmission, systemic position, symptoms, invasion type, and protocol use for the treatment.