RARE INFECTION TO AN EPIDEMIC: A TALE OF MUCORMYCOSIS IN ERA OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC – A STUDY OF 150 CASES

Abstract

Mucormycosis is an invasive disease mainly occurs in immunocompromised patients and is associated with high mortality. There is a surge in cases of mucormycosis in post COVID-19 patients. The study comprises of histopathological evaluation of 150 cases of clinically and radiologically suggestive of mucormycosis concurrent with COVID-19 disease in a period of single month. A denitive diagnosis is based on presence of aseptate fungal hyphae of Mucor species in tissue sections. The features observed on microscopy include tissue invasion by fungal hyphae, necrosis, vascular invasion, neutrophilic inltration and granulomatous reaction. Necrosis and angioinvasion are hallmarks of infection. As mucormycosis is a deadly disease, early diagnosis is imperative to institute surgical and antifungal treatment.