Mucormycosis in patients infected with the delta strain of COVID-19 virus, effective of some factors in the prevalence and patient prognosis in Shahid Beheshti Hospital, Kashan, central Iran.

Background: Opportunistic infections such as mucormycosis, are spread in COVID-19 patients due to the use of corticosteroids therapy. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of mucormycosis in patients infected with the delta strain of the COVID-19 virus and evaluated some effective factors in the prevalence and patient prognosis.

Methods: This study was performed on 44 COVID patients with co-infection to mucormycosis who were admitted to Shahid Beheshti Hospital, Kashan in 2022. The COVID diagnosis was based on clinical signs and a positive PCR test, the diagnosis of mucormycosis was based on a positive laboratory report of fungi culture medium. The patient outcomes were recorded and CALL scoring system was used to determine the severity of the disease. The results were analyzed by descriptive statistics using SPSS 16 software.

Results: Of 44 COVID patients infected with mucormycosis, 26 (59.1%) had diabetes. All 44 patients had a history of taking steroids with an average daily dose of 48.77±65.15 mg. Twenty-six (59.1%) patients were admitted to the ICU, 18 (40.9%) required intubation. Sixteen (36.4%) patients died. A significant decries observed in lymphopenia after treatment of patients (p<0.0001). CALL scores using showed that 33 (75%) patients had severe risk factors.

Conclusion: Uncontrolled diabetes and hypertension are the two most common risk factors of mucormycosis in COVID patients. High use of glucocorticoid drugs and immune suppression are predisposing causes for opportunistic organisms. Accurate laboratory diagnosis of mucormycosis plays an important role in treatment of patients and in controlling the disease.