Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in immense devastation, with a staggering death toll of over three million worldwide. As a consequence, there has been a notable rise in opportunistic infections, with one of the most alarming being COVID-19 associated Mucormycosis (CAM). The lack of comprehensive guidelines for screening and managing this condition, coupled with delayed diagnoses and poor prognoses, have heightened concerns among healthcare professionals that an epidemic of CAM may occur alongside the existing pandemic. Method: Twenty-one cases of invasive fungal infection from March to November 2021 were retrospectively examined. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, radiological, microbiological, pathological, and outcome data were then collected and analyzed. Result: Twenty-one consecutive inpatients with COVID-19 associated Mucormycosis (CAM) had a 57% pre-existing diabetes mellitus rate. The most prevalent symptoms at the beginning of the disease included facial swelling (81%), periorbital edema (52%), fever (81%), and headache (57%). According to radiographic studies, the majority of patients showed thickening of the sinus mucosa, which was followed by inflammation of the periorbital muscles and cavernous sinus infiltration. Conclusion: Steroid use, diabetes mellitus, and superadded COVID-19 infection induced immunodeficiency caused a higher incidence of Mucormycosis. The study highlighted the importance of early detection and proactive treatment, including surgical debridement and antifungal therapy, which significantly improved the long-term outcome and reduced the rates of mortality and morbidity.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in immense devastation, with a staggering death toll of over three million worldwide. As a consequence, there has been a notable rise in opportunistic infections, with one of the most alarming being COVID-19 associated Mucormycosis (CAM). The lack of comprehensive guidelines for screening and managing this condition, coupled with delayed diagnoses and poor prognoses, have heightened concerns among healthcare professionals that an epidemic of CAM may occur alongside the existing pandemic. Method: Twenty-one cases of invasive fungal infection from March to November 2021 were retrospectively examined. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, radiological, microbiological, pathological, and outcome data were then collected and analyzed. Result: Twenty-one consecutive inpatients with COVID-19 associated Mucormycosis (CAM) had a 57% pre-existing diabetes mellitus rate. The most prevalent symptoms at the beginning of the disease included facial swelling (81%), periorbital edema (52%), fever (81%), and headache (57%). According to radiographic studies, the majority of patients showed thickening of the sinus mucosa, which was followed by inflammation of the periorbital muscles and cavernous sinus infiltration. Conclusion: Steroid use, diabetes mellitus, and superadded COVID-19 infection induced immunodeficiency caused a higher incidence of Mucormycosis. The study highlighted the importance of early detection and proactive treatment, including surgical debridement and antifungal therapy, which significantly improved the long-term outcome and reduced the rates of mortality and morbidity.