Surveillance for COVID-19 associated mucormycosis: A coordinated effort in prevention and management of rhino-orbital mucormycosis

Abstract

Abstract Context: Patients of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and factors inducing a diabetogenic state are at increased risk for rhino-orbital mucormycosis (ROM). Efforts to diagnose ROM in its pre-clinical stage would avoid the disease and its consequences. Aim: This study aimed to diagnose ROM in the pre-clinical stage of the disease in high-risk patients and treat patients accordingly. Settings and Design: This is a single-center, prospective study conducted at a tertiary care center in Northern India in collaboration with departments of Otolaryngology, Internal Medicine, and Mycology. Materials and Methods: Fifty-three high-risk patients were enrolled in the study, and all underwent bedside nasal endoscopy with tissue sampling for fungal culture. Patients with suspicious nasal endoscopy findings but negative fungal culture were prescribed oral posaconazole. Those with positive fungal hyphae on nasal endoscopy and culture underwent surgical intervention followed by intravenous amphotericin B, while the remaining patients were kept on follow-up. Statistical Analysis Used: Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences software. Results: Among the 53 patients, 13 (24.5%) patients had abnormalities on nasal endoscopy, while the remaining 40 (75.5%) patients had normal nasal mucosal cavities. Seven patients (13.2%) underwent surgery and received intravenous liposomal amphotericin B, while another 7 (13.2%) received oral posaconazole. Thirty-five (66.03%) patients were placed under observation, and 4 (7.5%) patients died due to COVID-19-related illness. Conclusions: Nasal endoscopic-guided tissue sampling for fungal culture serves as a valuable surveillance tool for predicting ROM in COVID-19 patients.