COVID-19 Associated Rhino-Orbital Mucormycosis Complicated by Gangrenous and Bone Necrosis-A Case Report from Honduras

• Published in: Vaccines (Basel) Vol. 9; no. 8; p. 826
• Main Authors: Palou, Elsa Yolanda, Ramos, María Auxiliadora, Cherenfant, Emec, Duarte, Adoni, Fuentes-Barahona, Itzel Carolina, Zambrano, Lysien I, Muñoz-Lara, Fausto, Montoya-Ramirez, Sandra Aracely, Cardona-Ortiz, Alex Francisco, Valle-Reconco, Jorge Alberto, Montenegro-Idrogo, Juan J, Bonilla-Aldana, D Katterine, Paniz-Mondolfi, Alberto E, Rodriguez-Morales, Alfonso J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 27.07.2021; MDPI
• Subjects: Amphotericin B; Bacterial infections; Biopsy; Case Report; Case reports; coinfection; Complications; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Dexamethasone; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Diagnosis; Drug dosages; Fungal infections; Fungi; Gangrene; Health risks; Hematology; Immunocompromised hosts; Infections; Medical imaging; mucorales; Mucormycosis; Necrosis; opportunistic; Pandemics; Patients; Risk analysis; Risk factors; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Sinuses; Steroid hormones; Steroids; Surgery; Ulcers; Honduras; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; mucorales; opportunistic; honduras; coinfection; mucormycosis
• ISSN: 2076-393X; 2076-393X
• DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9080826

Mucormycosis is a life-threatening invasive fungal infection most commonly observed in immunocompromised patients. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, a growing number of associated infections, now termed COVID-19 associated mucormycosis (CAM), have been reported. Despite an increase in fatality reports, no cases of rhino-orbital CAM complicated with gangrenous bone necrosis have been described in the literature to date. A 56-year-old male with a recent COVID-19 diagnosis developed rhino-orbital mucormycosis after 22 days of treatment with dexamethasone. Cultures and histopathological assessment of tissue biopsy confirmed the diagnosis. The patient survived after treatment with amphotericin B. Mucormycosis is an invasive fungal infection affecting mostly immunocompromised patients. Along with the COVID-19 pandemic, the inappropriate use of steroids, in addition to concurrent risk factors, such as diabetes, has led to an increase in the occurrence of these devastating mycoses, leading to the development of severe presentations and complications, as observed in many cases. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are crucial in order to avoid dissemination and fatal outcomes.