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BMC Infectious Diseases
Published in: BMC Infectious Diseases 1/2021

Open Access 01-12-2021 | COVID-19 | Case report

A case report of rhino-facial mucormycosis in a non-diabetic patient with COVID-19: a systematic review of literature and current update

Authors: Faezeh Mohammadi, Milad Badri, Shapoor Safari, Nima Hemmat

Published in: BMC Infectious Diseases | Issue 1/2021

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Abstract

Background

COVID-19 disease may be associated with a wide range of bacterial and fungal infections. We report a patient with COVID-19 infection who developed rhino-facial mucormycosis during treatment with corticosteroids.

Case presentation

A 59-year-old non-diabetic male patient was admitted with a diagnosis of COVID-19 based on positive RT-PCR and CT of the lungs. Due to sever lung involvement, he was treated with methylprednisolone. The patient was re-admitted to hospital, due to nasal obstruction and left side facial and orbital swelling, several days after discharge. In sinus endoscopic surgery, debridement was performed and the specimens were sent to pathology and mycology laboratories. A nasal biopsy showed wide hyphae without septa. The sequenced PCR product revealed Rhizopus oryzae. Despite all medical and surgical treatment, the patient died. In addition, the characteristics of patients with COVID-19-associated mucormycosis were reviewed in 44 available literatures. In most studies, diabetes mellitus was the most common predisposing factor for mucormycosis.

Conclusion

Our report highlights the need for assessing the presence of mucormycosis in patients with COVID-19 and also it shows that physicians should consider the potential for secondary invasive fungal infections in COVID-19 cases.
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Metadata
Title
A case report of rhino-facial mucormycosis in a non-diabetic patient with COVID-19: a systematic review of literature and current update
Authors
Faezeh Mohammadi
Milad Badri
Shapoor Safari
Nima Hemmat
Publication date
01-12-2021
Publisher
BioMed Central
Keyword
COVID-19
Published in
BMC Infectious Diseases / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2334
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-021-06625-3

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