A Role of Black Fungus in COVID-19: A Review

Abstract

Mucormycosis is a rare type of fungal infection commonly known as zygomycosis, the infection tends to crop up more commonly in individuals with low and weakened immunity level, if left untreated, the mucormycosis can be life-threatening and fatal. Mucormycosis previously known as zygomycosis is a consequential type of infection caused by several mildews known as micromycetes. The revised taxonomical studies revealed that the micromycetes causing the infections are classified as the species of phylum Glomeromycota, class Glomeromycetes, subphylum Mucoromycotina, order Mucorales. The genera of Rhizopus, Mucor, Lichtheimia, Cunninghamella, Rhizomucor, and Apophysomyces, constitute the causative agents of the majority of cases of mucormycosis. The angioinvasive type of disorder caused by mucormycosis is further classified as Mucorales. The patients with Diabetes ketoacidosis and diabetes mellitus are at high-risk factors, followed by the patients with organ transplant, immunocompromised disease, and malignancy. The route of exposure to Mucormycosis may be through the wounded infection that can be pneumonic, or dermal in origin. In the ectodermal form, the fungal organism can invade the skin through open or puncture wounds, or the laceration on the skin. However, the infection has a high mortality rate, the key to successful treatment is early diagnosis, and administration of antifungal drugs, with extensive therapy, followed by surgical debridement of the infection. The morbidity and mortality rate are still at a high number, due to the negligence of the patient to seek medical treatment. Hence the early diagnosis and treatment with antifungal drugs with surgical debridement is a must. The efficacy of oral and venous formulations in the treatment of mucorales is still under debate. Despite the aggressive therapy, the mortality rate is increasing worldwide. The studies have to be conducted to invent the fastest treatment protocol for the treatment of Mucormycosis.