Acute Invasive Fungal Sinusitis Research Articles

Acute invasive fungal sinusitis with orbital tip syndrome in patients on long-term use of ruxolitinib: a case report

IntroductionA long-term ruxolitinib-treated patient with primary myelofibrosis, who was co-infected with aspergillosis infection during a short period, developed acute invasive fungal sinusitis with consequent orbit apex syndrome. This may be the first reported case in the world.This is a 75-year-old Chinese man; the patient was admitted with 2-month history of headache accompanied by numbness and 8-day history of vision loss. The preliminary clinical diagnoses were suspected acute invasive fungal sinusitis or adenoid cystic carcinoma. We performed endoscopic debridement and antifungal therapy. About 90 days after surgery, magnetic resonance imaging revealed no recurrence of pathological tissue.ConclusionOne of the bases for the occurrence of invasive fungal sinusitis may be the patient’s long-term use of ruxolitinib for essential thrombocythemia. Some patients with invasive fungal sinuses have atypical nasal symptoms and are referred to the corresponding departments with eye and headache as the first symptoms. It is suggested that enhanced magnetic resonance imaging should be performed at an early stage. Surgical treatment in combination with antifungal and enhanced immunotherapy can effectively prevent the spread of infection and reduce the risk of death.

The changing trend of fungal infection in invasive rhinosinusitis in the COVID era

ABSTRACT Background: SARS-COV virus operates as a significant risk factor for invasive fungal aspergillosis and mucormycosis. Successful management of this fulminant infection requires early recognition of the disease and aggressive medical or surgical interventions to prevent the high morbidity and mortality associated with the disease process. Aims and Objective of the Study: 1. To isolate and identify different species of fungi among acute rhinosinusitis patients. 2. To assess the association of risk factors causing fungal rhinosinusitis. 3. To assess the changing trend in fungal rhinosinusitis during the COVID era. Material and Methods: This is a retrospective observational study conducted from May 2020 to October 2022, attending the ENT department and relevant data were collected from the medical records department of ABVIMS and Dr RML Hospital, New Delhi, a Tertiary Care Referral Centre in India. The major risk factors studied were age, gender, COVID-19 infection and underlying diseases (such as diabetes mellitus, ischaemic heart disease, hypertension, malignancies, chronic kidney DISEASES, etc.); details of corticosteroid use of all patients were recorded in the datasheet. The pandemic data was divided into three distinct time periods/waves/eras, i.e., first, second, and third waves, each of which included ten months, to examine the changing trend in fungal rhinosinusitis in the pandemic era of COVID-19. Results: A total of 412 patients out of which 236 patients were clinically diagnosed with fungal sinusitis based on revised EORTC criteria. The most common site involved was the orbit with paranasal sinus and eye 86/236 (36.4%), followed by involvement of nasal and paranasal sinus alone 68/236 (28.8%). The most prevalent age range affected was 40 to 50 years. The most commonly associated comorbidity was diabetes mellitus (DM) in 176 (74.5%), followed by head and neck malignancies in 22 (9.32%) patients. Thirty-eight (50.6%) Rhizopus species and 18 (24%) Aspergillus flavus were the most common isolated fungal species on culture, followed by Mucor spp. 14 (18.6%) and Aspergillus fumigatus 5 (6.6%) in the period. In the second wave of COVID, there was a surge in Zygomycetes cases 36 (45%) and after the second wave, the Aspergillus cases increased by 14 (19%) during Jan-Oct 2022. Conclusion: With the continuing coronavirus pandemic, there is an unprecedented and discernible rise in the prevalence of acute invasive fungal sinusitis certainly a spike in cases of Aspergillus infection was observed, probably due to unprecedented usage of Amphotericin B for the treatment of mucormycosis during the third wave This underlines the importance of the need to tailor our treatment protocol as per the etiological agents hence the right antifungal drugs combined with urgent surgical procedures on a case-to-case basis may certainly increase the chances of survival.

Image Guided Palatal Obturator Design and Fabrication for Maxillectomy Defect in the Case of Acute Invasive Fungal Sinusitis

Acute invasive fungal sinusitis requires a high clinical suspicion and rapid diagnosis for initiation of surgical and medical treatment. Due to necessity of expedited surgical treatment, evaluation and impression making by a maxillofacial prosthodontist is rarely possible prior to debridement. Surgical debridement often results in maxillary defects, which can negatively impact speech, deglutition, and respiration. A surgical obturator occludes the palatal defect resulting in improved speech, swallowing and prevention of wound contamination with food particulate. This article focuses on utilizing medical imaging, usually acquired for diagnosis and surgical planning, to fabricate a well-fitting surgical obturator without conventional or digital intraoral dental impression making.

Prognostic Factors for Survival Using a Clinical Severity Staging System Among Patients With Acute Invasive Fungal Sinusitis

Despite the aggressive progression of fulminant acute invasive fungal sinusitis (AIFS), data on prognostic factors have been disparate, hindering the development of a staging system. A composite staging system may improve prognostication for patient counseling and conduct of clinical research. To identify prognostically important factors in AIFS and to incorporate the factors into a comprehensive Functional Severity Staging System and Clinical Severity Staging System. This retrospective cohort study included adult patients diagnosed with pathology-proven AIFS from June 1, 1992, to December 31, 2022, at Washington University Medical Center and Barnes-Jewish Hospital, a tertiary care center in St Louis, Missouri. Data were analyzed from April to July 2023. Sequential sequestration and conjunctive consolidation was used to develop a composite staging system to predict 6-month overall survival. Of 71 patients with pathology-proven AIFS over the 30-year period, the median (range) age of the cohort was 56 (19-63) years, and there were 47 (66%) male patients. The median (range) follow-up time was 2 (0-251) months. There were 28 patients alive within 6 months, for a 39% survival rate. Symptoms, comorbidity burden, and presence and duration of severe neutropenia were associated with 6-month survival and were consolidated into a 3-category Clinical Severity Staging System with 6-month survival of 75% for stage A (n = 16), 41% for stage B (n = 27), and 18% for stage C (n = 28). The discriminative power of the composite staging system was moderate (C statistic, 0.63). This cohort study supports the clinical importance of symptomatology, comorbidity burden, and prolonged severe neutropenia at the time of AIFS presentation. The composite clinical staging system may be useful for clinicians when counseling patients with AIFS and conducting clinical research.

Comparison between amphotericin b and posaconazole as consolidation therapy in invasive fungal sinusitis (mucormycosis)

Aim: To analyse the effects of combination therapy with Injection liposomal Amphotericin B (LAmB) and Tablet Posaconazole in Mucormycosis. Acute invasive fungal sinusitis is an uncommon disease that often has rapid and destructive clinical progression. Priorly, a disease of the immuno-compromised, Invasive fungal sinusitis is typically associated with patients undergoing chemotherapy, stem cell transplantation as well as in patients with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus and patients using corticosteroids. Materials and methods: This retrospective observational study was carried after obtaining institutional ethical committee on a total of 40 patients with history of diabetes mellitus, covid positivity, infusion of steroid injections and immuno-compromised were admitted and treated between May 2021 to July 2021. Results: Any potential combination therapy study under consideration for testing in patients with Mucormycosis should use polyene, as backbone therapy. Injection Amphotericin B remains the only antifungal agent licensed by the US Food and Drug Administration for primary therapy of Mucormycosis. Tablet Posaconazole reported 90% minimum inhibitory concentrations with Mucorales range from 1 to >=4 microgram/ml. In febrile neutropenic patients or those with mucormycosis, Conclusion: Mucormycosis is a disease of increasing frequency. It continues to have a higher mortality rate than most other infections, frequently affects young patients.

A case of acute invasive fungal sinusitis in an immunocompetent patient on glatiramer acetate therapy

Acute invasive fungal sinusitis (AIFS) is a rapidly progressing, life-threatening infection. The advent of immunomodulatory therapies has expanded the population susceptible to AIFS. In this case report, we describe a patient who defies the conventional profile of AIFS. This 70-year-old woman is immunocompetent and non-diabetic, with a history of multiple sclerosis (MS) and ongoing treatment with glatiramer acetate (GA), immunomodulator. She came to the emergency room due to acute vision changes, and images revealed an enhancing mass in the left pterygopalatine fossa. The diagnosis of AIFS was confirmed by biopsy in the operating room. Subsequently, anti-fungal therapies were initiated with a follow-up operative debridement. Follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (10 months since treatment) showed no progression of AIFS. GA was discontinued since the diagnosis, and MS has remained stable. Recognizing this unique group of atrisk patients is crucial, as early detection and treatment play a pivotal role in preventing significant morbidity and mortality.

Schematic approach of post Covid-19 acute invasive fungal sinusitis

Schematic approach of post Covid-19 acute invasive fungal sinusitis

Changes in the profile of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and related neuroimaging findings during the first and second waves: a South Indian perspective

BackgroundThe spectrum of COVID-19 infection-related neurological imaging findings in East Asian and Western populations has been well documented. In the Indian subcontinent, certain extracranial neurological imaging manifestations such as acute invasive fungal sinusitis were noted to occur with increasing frequency when compared to that reported in literature. This anomaly was more evident during the second wave of infection and since there is a paucity of literature documenting this change, we undertook this retrospective observational study.ResultsPatients with COVID-19 who underwent brain or spine imaging between 1st March 2020 and 31st May 2021 were assessed for inclusion. We considered cases with imaging done in 2020 as the 1st wave, and cases with imaging done in 2021 as the 2nd wave. In the first wave, the most common neuroimaging findings were ischemic stroke (82, 26.5%), acute invasive fungal sinusitis (34, 11%), dural venous sinus thrombosis (15, 4.9%), and brain hemorrhages (15, 4.9%). In the second wave, the most common were acute invasive fungal sinusitis (44, 21.9%), ischemic stroke (39, 19.4%), and noninvasive sinusitis (30, 14.9%). The second wave had significantly more cases of acute invasive fungal sinusitis (44, 21.9% vs. 34, 11%; p-value .001), noninvasive sinusitis, and orbital cellulitis when compared to the first wave.ConclusionsWhile we had ischemic stroke, followed by acute invasive fungal sinusitis, dural venous sinus thrombosis, and brain hemorrhages as the most common neuroimaging findings in the first wave, the second wave was dominated by the extracranial complications of Mucormycosis, namely acute invasive fungal sinusitis.

A Comparative Study of Acute Invasive Fungal Sinusitis During the First and Second Waves of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

We aimed to compare the demography, clinical profile, histopathology, fungal culture, radiology, surgery performed, medical therapy and outcomes of patients with acute invasive fungal sinusitis seen during the first and second waves of the COVID-19 pandemic by retrospectively reviewing their case records. Of 238 patients, 43(18.1%) presented during the first wave and 195(81.9%) during the second wave. Patients seen during the first wave were older (p = 0.04) and more likely to have visual impairment (p = 0.004), frozen eye (p = 0.012), altered sensorium (p = 0.007) and stage 3 disease (p = 0.03). Those seen during the second wave were more often COVID-19 positive and had newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus (p = 0.04)and stage 1 disease (p = 0.03). Most patients had a positive culture for Rhizopus species during both waves. Histopathology showed broad aseptate hyphae in all patients but angioinvasion was seen more often during the first wave (p = 0.04). The majority of patients were treated with endoscopic+/- open debridement followed by intravenous amphotericin B and oral posaconazole. While the overall survival rate was similar (first wave 65.1%; second wave 79%; p = 0.106), mortality after discharge was greater during the first wave (11.6% vs 1.5%; p = 0.001). Mortality was higher in patients with stage 3 disease (p = 0.003). Significant differences in clinical presentation, histopathology, radiological stage of disease and post-discharge survival were noted between the two waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, the causes for which were multi-factorial.

Pictorial Review of Post COVID-19 Acute Invasive Fungal Sinusitis: Clinical Radiologists' Perspective.

Acute invasive fungal sinusitis (AIFS) is a rapidly progressive infection predominantly seen in immunocompromised patients. There is an increasing incidence of AIFS post COVID-19 infection. Yet, there is sparse literature regarding spectrum of cross-sectional imaging findings (CT and MRI) in these patients, which is prudent for appropriate timely surgical intervention. This study aims to highlight spectrum of imaging findings in patients with post-COVID-19 AIFS integrating the clinical details from presentation to follow-up. We retrospectively reviewed the demographics, clinical details and radiological imaging of 31 histopathological proven cases of post COVID-19 AIFS. MR and CT images of these patients were retrieved from the PACS and analysed. 90-day follow-up of these patients was obtained. Statistical analysis was performed using descriptive statistics. Cross-sectional imaging showed nasal cavity involvement in all patients, bilateral in (15, 48%) cases; predominant involvement of maxillary (31, 100%) followed by ethmoid sinuses (29, 93.5%) was seen. MR showed patchy/complete loss of normal mucosal enhancement in the turbinates and sinuses as predominant imaging finding. Maxillary sinus walls erosions were seen in 28 cases (90%). Rhino-orbital and rhino-orbito-cerebral mycosis was seen in 24 (77%) and 14 (45%) respectively. Optic nerve-sheath complex was involved in 15 (48%) cases. Cerebral involvement was seen in form of meningeal enhancement, cerebritis, ischemic changes, cavernous sinus and intracranial arterial thrombosis and aneurysms. Comprehensive knowledge of imaging features of AIFS and recognition of extent of their spread allows radiologists to play pivotal role in alerting the clinician for appropriate therapy to avoid protracted and fatal outcome.

Primary mandibular mucormycosis without para nasal sinus involvement following SARS CoV-2 infection – a series of four cases and review of literature

The increased incidence of mucormycosis in post covid-19 is due to steroid induced diabetes mellitus. The commonest presentation is acute invasive fungal sinusitis involving maxillary sinus most commonly followed by invasion to local soft tissues and bone structures. It also involves orbit and brain extending from sinuses. Mandible has no direct communication with any of the para nasal sinuses and involvement is extremely rare and seldom reported. We came across four such cases during post covid-19 mucormycosis epidemic. Poor dentitions, ulcerated mucosa, inoculation during dental procedures are the proposed mode of entry of the fungi into the mandible.

Optimization of diagnostic and procedural codes to identify patients with acute invasive fungal sinusitis.

Acute invasive fungal sinusitis (IFS) is a rare disease with high mortality There is no designated International Classification of Diseases code for IFS We propose a novel method to identify IFS using optimized codes complemented by medications.

Sinonasal Orbital Apex Syndrome, Horner Syndrome and Pterygopalatine Fossa Infection: A Case Report and Mini-Review.

This paper presents a literature review and a case of an 83-year-old otherwise healthy female patient with a history of recent syncope, a sudden-onset right-sided temporal headache, diplopia, and vision loss. An exam revealed right-sided upper eyelid ptosis, myosis, vision loss, ophthalmoplegia, and a positive relative afferent pupillary defect on the right eye. CT showed sphenoid sinus opacification, eroded lateral sinus wall, Vidian canal, disease extension to the posterior ethmoid air cells, orbital apex, medial orbital wall, and pterygopalatine fossa. An orbital apex syndrome (Jacod's syndrome), Horner syndrome, and pterygopalatine fossa infection were diagnosed due to the acute invasive fungal sinusitis developed from a sphenoid sinus fungal ball. The patient was treated with antimicrobial therapy and transnasal endoscopic surgery twice to decompress the orbital apex, drain the abscess and obtain specimens for analysis. The right-sided ptosis, visual loss, ophthalmoplegia, and headache resolved entirely. No immune or comorbid diseases were identified, microbiological and histopathological analyses were negative, and MRI could not be performed on the presented patient. For that reason, the diagnostic procedure was non-standard. Nevertheless, the treatment outcome of this vision and life-threatening disease was satisfactory. Treating the fungal ball in an older or immunocompromised patient is essential to prevent invasive fungal rhinosinusitis and fatal complications.

Varied Clinical Presentations of Allergic Fungal Rhinosinusitis-A Case Series.

Fungal sinusitis is broadly classified into invasive and non invasive types. Invasive type presents with fungal hyphae within the mucosa, submucosa, bone, or blood vessels of the paranasal sinuses and includes Acute Invasive Fungal Sinusitis, Acute Fulminant, Chronic Invasive Fungal Sinusitis, Chronic Granulomatous Fungal Sinusitis. Invasive forms of fungal rhinosinusitis are rare and confined to groups of patients who are immunocompromised (Key in Fungal rhinosinusitis). Noninvasive type shows absence of fungal hyphae within the mucosa paranasal sinuses. It includes Allergic Fungal rhinosinusitis, Fungus Ball (fungus mycetoma). The study was performed on a total of 30 patients, in Department of Otorhinolaryngology, at our hospital after getting approved by theInstituitional Human Ethical Committee. We selected 30 patients diagnosed with allergic fungal sinusitis and studied their varied clinical presentations and treatment for a period of 1year. It was a prospective case series type of study. Patients who presented with symptoms of allergic fungal rhinosinusitis were included. Patients who were referred with complaints of proptosis, diplopia were also included to rule out allergic fungal rhinosinusitis and its complications. Patients diagnosed with chronic granulomatous infection of nose and invasive fungal sinusitis were excluded. Evaluation of patients involved a detailed case history followed by clinical examination and radiologic investigation. After getting proper consent, we did a study of 30 patients who presented to our outpatient department with complaints of sinusitis. Our study included 12 male and 18 female patients. Among these patients, all of them had complaints of frequent allergic rhinosinusitis, nose block, facial heaviness. 12 among them had olfactory disturbances, reduced perception of smell. 4 patients presented with visual disturbances and proptosis which subsided after endoscopic sinus surgery was done.24 among these patients had presence of allergic fungal mucin in their nasal secretions and 10 patients had history of associated atopy and asthma and elevated Ig E levels. And 20 of these patients showed high eosinophil counts. All these patients in our case series were under the age group 22-70years. These patients were treated with a course of nasal sprays and preoperative steroids in case of extensive polyposis and were taken up for functional endoscopic sinus surgery. Polypoidal mucosa was removed, diseased tissue was cleared, sinus blockage was released and fungal mucin/tissue bits were sent for histopathological analysis, KOH mount and fungal culture. This study included a series of cases which showed a wide range of the various clinical presentations that occur in cases of allergic fungal rhinosinusitis, its diagnosis and treatment. The advantage of this study was we had analyzed a good number of cases with varied presentations. Since AFRS is closely related with EMRS, CRS a proper clinical, radiological and immunological evaluation of the cases help in knowing the correct diagnosis and treatment.

Clinical and mycological investigations of post-COVID-19 acute invasive fungal sinusitis.

An increased incidence of acute invasive fungal sinusitis associated with the recent COVID-19 pandemic has been observed, which is considered a public health concern. This study aims to detect the incidence, risk factors, causative agents, clinical presentations, outcomes, and susceptibility rate of various antifungals. In this cross-sectional cohort study, a total of 30 patients showing acute invasive fungal rhinosinusitis following a COVID-19 infection were investigated. Histopathological biopsies, culture identification, and molecular confirmation of the causative agents were conducted. The demographic data, risk factors, clinical presentations, treatment regimen and its outcomes, and efficacy of antifungals were listed and analyzed. A total of 30 cases with a mean age of 59.6 ± 11.9 years were included. Diabetes mellitus was the most recorded comorbidity with a rate of 86.7%, whereas most of the patients received corticosteroids. The mycological examination confirmed the existence of Mucor (Rhizopus oryzae) and Aspergillus (Aspergillus niger) in 96.7% and 3.3% of the cases, respectively. Various stages of sinonasal involvement (ethmoid, maxillary, sphenoid, and inferior turbinate) represented 100%, 83.3%, 66.7%, and 86.7% of the cases, respectively. Headache and facial pain, ophthalmoplegia, visual loss, and blindness represented 100%, 66.7%, 90%, and 53.3% of the cases, respectively. All the cases were simultaneously treated with surgical debridement and amphotericin B. Moreover, R. oryzae was susceptible to it, whereas A. niger was sensitive to voriconazole, resulting in a survival rate of 86.7% (26/30). The R. oryzae and A. niger isolates were proven to be sensitive to acetic acid, ethyl alcohol, formalin, and isopropyl alcohol. In patients with COVID-19, the diagnosis of acute invasive fungal sinusitis and prompt treatment with antifungal medicine and surgical debridement are important in achieving better outcomes and survival rates. 4.

RNA Sequencing and Gene Ontology Analysis in Acute Invasive Fungal Sinusitis.

Acute invasive fungal sinusitis (AIFS) is an aggressive and dangerous disease of the paranasal sinuses with high morbidity and mortality. The immune response at the level of the nasal mucosa, the site of entry, has not been previously evaluated. To evaluate differential gene expression in the sinonasal mucosa of AIFS patients as compared to control patients using RNA sequencing. Sinonasal tissue samples were prospectively obtained from consenting patients undergoing surgery between November, 2020 and November, 2021. RNA extraction and sequencing were performed and differential expression was analyzed to detect transcriptional differences between patient groups. Tissue samples were collected from 4 patients with active AIFS diagnoses, 2 patients with recovered AIFS, 1 patient with a diagnosis of non-invasive fungal ball, and 4 healthy controls. 255 genes were differentially expressed in AIFS patients as compared to control patients. Specific Gene Ontology (GO) biological processes that were identified as differentially expressed in AIFS patients as compared to controls included the following: 1. GO:0007155 (cell adhesion), 2. GO:0030199 (collagen fibril organization) and 3. GO:0001525 (angiogenesis). Transcriptional differences were noted between AIFS and control patients in sinonasal tissue samples. Future work is necessary to determine causes of the differential gene expressions between AIFS and control patients, specifically those who are immunosuppressed, or with preexisting non-invasive forms of fungal sinusitis, to guide treatment and prevention strategies.

Wave of Invasive Fungal Disease on the Shores of COVID-19: A Case Series of COVID-19 Associated Rhino-Orbital Fungal Rhinosinusitis and Literature Review.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be associated with a wide range of bacterial and fungal co-infections. Acute invasive fungal sinusitis is an aggressive infection affecting immunocompromised patients and high mortality rate. Here, in this case series, we have reviewed three cases of COVID-19 associated rhino-orbital invasive fungal disease. Patients with COVID-19 associated pneumonia with diabetes mellitus are at an increased risk of developing invasive pulmonary fungal infections probably due to their reduced immunological competence. Concurrent glucocorticoid therapy probably heightens the risk of mucormycosis. Physicians should be aware of and should have high index of suspicion of possible fungal infection in post COVID-19 patients. Aggressive management both medical and surgical, is required to improve outcomes of secondary invasive fungal infections in patients with COVID-19 infection.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12070-022-03213-y.

Accuracy of MRI for Diagnosis of Acute Invasive Fungal Sinusitis Taking Histopathology as a Gold Standard

Aim: Diagnostic accuracy of MRI for diagnosis of acute invasive fungal sinusitis by taking histopathology as gold standard Study design: Cross sectional study at Radiology department, Ittefaq Hospital Lahore Duration: Six months from 23-02-2018 to 23-08-2018 A total of 346 cases fulfilling inclusion & exclusion criteria were taken. All cases were done MRI procedure. Histopathology reports were also obtained. The results obtained were used to calculate the diagnostic accuracy. Results: The male were 195(56.4%) and female were 151(43.6%). On histopathology, 120(34.7%) cases showed positive results. By MRI study, 114(32.9%) cases were of positive finding. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of MRI was 90%, 97.4%, 94.7% and 94.8% respectively and diagnostic accuracy of MRI was 94.8%. Conclusion: For diagnosing acute invasive fungal sinusitis, there is high diagnostic accuracy of MRI taking histopathology as gold standard. Keywords: sinus fungal infection, histopathology, MRI

Insights from Surgically treated Post Covid Acute Invasive Fungal Rhino-Orbital sinusitis in Chandrapur Study (SPAROS): A Population Based study of Coronavirus Associated Mucormycosis (CAM) characteristics in India

Introduction: COVID19 associated mucormycosis (CAM) became a public health problem in India in 2021 . However information about incidence, presentation, prognosis of CAM remains sparseMethods: We describe 100 cases from SPAROS, a prospective observational follow-up study of CAM cases diagnosed in Chandrapur district, India. We use two step cluster analysis using four input variables- blood glucose on admission, diabetes status, glucocorticoid exposure and COVID19 severity- to define three distinct CAM clusters.Results: The incidence of CAM in the general population is 7.1 cases /1000 COVID19 hospitalized cases. Steroid exposure and pre-existing diabetes was present in 76% and 55% respectively. In a median follow up of 18 days, only two deaths were recorded, while 93 were stable. .Glucocorticoids, in particular methylprednisolone, seemed to precipitate CAM. ICU admission was found to predict less extensive surgery.Discussion: We describe three subtypes- COVID 19 associated Diabetes and mucormycosis (CADM), COVID19 associated Classical Mucormycosis (CACM) and COVID19 induced mucormycosis (CIM) . We propose a CAM hypothesis based on SARS CoV2 and Glucose Regulated Protein (GRP 78) dynamicsConclusion: Clinical characteristics, natural course and pathogenesis is different from Mucormycosis in pre-covid era . Our classification, will be handy in CAM management.

A diagnostic algorithm for early diagnosis and management of acute invasive fungal sinusitis

PurposeTo define different risk groups of patients suspected of having acute invasive fungal sinusitis (AIFS) and develop a goal-directed diagnostic approach. Materials and methodsForty patients with suspected AIFS biopsied from 2010 to 2020 were included in this study. Patients diagnosed with chronic invasive fungal sinusitis or without biopsy results were excluded. A recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) model was performed to define patient cohorts with the highest risk of having a positive biopsy for AIFS. ResultsThere were a total of 26 patients with biopsy-proven AIFS. Patient characteristics significantly associated with an increased likelihood of a positive biopsy for AIFS on bivariate analysis included facial pain (p = 0.047), platelet count <50,000 cells/mm3 (p = 0.028), and abnormal CT findings, most commonly, bilateral sinus opacification (p = 0.003). The RPA model identified three risk factors for predicting a patient's probability of having a positive biopsy for AIFS, resulting in four-terminal nodes. In the twenty-six patients who had biopsy-proven AIFS, the post-operative 30-day all-cause mortality was 50 % (13/26) and overall mortality was 88.5 % (23/26). Predictors of 30-day all-cause mortality included prolonged interval between biopsy and operative start time (p = 0.042) and earlier initiation of antifungals prior to the operative start time (p = 0.042). ConclusionOur findings indicate that patients with a fever of unknown origin, low platelet count, and/or ANC are at an increased risk of being diagnosed with biopsy-proven AIFS. Using these risk factors, we propose a diagnostic approach that may expedite the treatment of patients with AIFS; however, future prospective studies are needed for validation.