COVID-19 and mucormycosis in Latin America – An emerging concern

• Published in: Travel medicine and infectious disease Vol. 44; p. 102156
• Main Authors: Rodriguez-Morales, Alfonso J., Mamani-García, Carlos S., Nuñez-Lupaca, Janeth N., León-Figueroa, Darwin A., Olarte-Durand, Mely, Yrene-Cubas, Robinson A., Ticona, Diana M., Abanto-Urbano, Sebastian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2021; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Comorbidity; Coronaviruses; Corticoids; COVID-19; Diabetes; Disease; Fatalities; Fungal infections; Humans; Hypertension; Infectious diseases; Latin America; Latin America - epidemiology; Men; Metabolism; Mortality; Mucormycosis; Mucormycosis - diagnosis; Mucormycosis - epidemiology; Pandemic; Pandemics; Patients; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Steroids; Surgery; Travel medicine; Ventilators; Viral infections; Women; Latin America; Brazil; Mexico; India; COVID-19; Mucormycosis; Pandemic; SARS-CoV-2; Latin America
• ISSN: 1477-8939; 1873-0442
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2021.102156

[...]its misuse could be an important factor in triggering aggressive mucormycosis in COVID-19 patients, as now observed worldwide. In that report, the case fatality rate (CFR) was 44% in men and 24% in women, while, due to underlying conditions, mortality was 45% in patients with diabetes mellitus; 37.9% in patients with burns or penetrating trauma; 58.5% in patients with immunosuppression, and 55.6% in patients who used corticosteroids. Mortality was observed in 30.7% of the cases. [...]a triad of diabetes mellitus, inappropriate use of corticosteroids and COVID-19 seems to increase mucormycosis cases. [...]every effort should be made to maintain optimal glucose and only the judicious use of corticosteroids in patients with COVID-19 [12].