J Mycol Infect.  2023 Jun;28(2):35-41. 10.17966/JMI.2023.28.2.35.

Epidemiological and Demographic Study of Patients with Mucormycosis and COVID-19

• Saki N
• Navaei AR
• Delirrooyfard A
• Jahangiri M
• Bagheri R

• KMID: 2549620
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.17966/JMI.2023.28.2.35

Abstract

Background
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with many bacterial and fungal diseases. Aspergillus and Candida have been reported as major pathogens resulting to comorbid infections in COVID-19 patients.
Objective
Recent studies have shown a considerable burden of cases affected by mucormycosis after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection worldwide, and some underlying factors may contribute to this condition. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the epidemiology and demographic characteristics of mucormycosis patients after COVID-19 infection in the Ahvaz province of Iran.
Methods
This descriptive-analytical epidemiological study was conducted on patients who developed mucormycosis following COVID-19 for a 6-month period in 2021. A checklist based on symptoms and possible risk factors was used to collect patient information.
Results
The results showed that conjunctivitis, ophthalmalgia, facial swelling, feeling of pain or pressure in the face, and sinusitis were the most common clinical manifestations of patients with mucormycosis following COVID-19. Additionally, there was a significant association between corticosteroid and prophylactic antibiotic use, pain or pressure in the face, and ophthalmalgia with the outcome variables including alive or dead (p-values = 0.002, 0.011, 0.034, and 0.004, respectively). No statistically significant difference was found between the ages of the two groups (p-value = 0.495).
Conclusion
The study findings revealed that the most common risk factors for mortality include diabetes, immune system defects, and use of prophylactic antibiotics or corticosteroids.

Keyword

COVID-19; Epidemiology; Mucormycosis