Deadly ‘fungal infection’ found among COVID positive patients

Hyderabad: Doctors at Continental Hospitals, one of the leading healthcare facilities in the city, on Monday said that they have come across Covid-19 positive patients who are suffering from Mucormycosis, a deadly fungal infection, posing as a silent killer.

In the past 3-4 weeks, a total of 5 patients have been reported with this deadly fungal infection at Continental Hospitals, indicating rise in the condition among the people of Hyderabad, the hospital said in a release here.

Prolonged hospitalisation and continuous use of corticosteroids, which has become standard for Covid-19 treatment is resulting in lowering immune system and this could lead to susceptibility to infections like Mucormycosis, which could cause irreversible damage to organs and threatening life of infected patients.

Commenting on symptoms, Dr Dushyanth Ganesuni, Consultant, ENT, Head and Neck Surgeon and Laryngologist, Continental Hospitals said, “Swelling around the eyes, one-sided facial or eye pain, decreased sensation over cheeks, blood-stained nasal discharge, among others are symptoms of Mucormycosis infection and should report such cases immediately for medical attention. Such patients will be administered with certain antifungal drugs or a surgical debridement will be performed depending on the condition to reduce the disease burden.”

“Unjustified and self-prescribed use of antibiotics and steroids to treat Covid-19 symptoms is dangerous. Such a practice will affect the immune system and could lead to secondary infections like Mucormycosis. Hence, even for conditions like fevers, cold, cough, it is suggested one seeks medical advice before resorting to any form of self-medication,” Dr. Dushyanth added.

Several studies from around the world have indicated that secondary fungal infections among critically ill Covid-19 positive patients is in the range of 5-23 per cent; while mortality rate among these fungus infected patients increases to 53 percent from 31 percent in non-infected Covid-19+ve patients.

In India, at least 40 cases of Mucormycosis, also known as black fungus, have been reported from Surat in Gujarat among those who have recovered from Covid-19.

Of the 40 patients identified, eight have lost their eyesight, and it is being attributed to this secondary infection, the release said.

The treating doctors and ICU specialists should be aware of this condition and a high degree of suspicion is needed particularly in patients with severe Covid-19 infection with other associated risk factors.

This entity is particularly evident in the middle and later stages of the disease.

Rational use of steroids, strict control of blood sugars, to maintain nasal hygiene by using saline isotonic nasal spray and to use 0.5 percent Betadine nasal drops 2 drops in both nostrils twice/thrice daily as a prophylactic treatment in these patients is recommended only under medical supervision, the release added. (UNI)