Research Journal of Medical Sciences
ISSN: Online 1993-6095ISSN: Print 1815-9346
Abstract
Mucormycosis is a severe, rapidly progressing fungal infection caused by fungi of the Mucoraceae family, predominantly affecting immunocompromised individuals, especially those with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus. The incidence of mucormycosis has risen notably during the COVID‐19 pandemic. This study aims to explore the epidemiology, risk factors, clinical presentation, diagnostic methods, and treatment outcomes of mucormycosis in patients at a tertiary care center. A retrospective study was conducted at the department of Otorhinolaryngology, RIMS, Raichur, including 150 patients diagnosed with mucormycosis from January 2021 to December 2023. Data on demographics, clinical presentation, risk factors, diagnostic methods, and treatment outcomes were collected and analyzed using SPSS version 26. Chi‐square tests were used to evaluate the association of risk factors with the severity of mucormycosis. Statistical significance was set at a p‐value of <0.05. The mean age of patients was 52.4 years, with 60.7% being male. Diabetes mellitus was the most prevalent risk factor (80.7%), followed by hypertension (49.3%) and immunocompromised status (27.3%). COVID‐19 positivity was observed in 40.7% of the cases. Common symptoms included facial swelling (74.0%), nasal discharge (57.3%), and headache (50.7%). Diagnostic methods such as KOH smear and CT/MRI imaging showed high positive rates, 90.7% and 94.0%, respectively. Treatment with liposomal amphotericin B was administered to 80.7% of patients, with surgical debridement performed in 67.3%. The mortality rate was 30.7%, with a recovery rate of 56.0% and a recurrence rate of 14.0%. Significant associations were found between diabetes mellitus, hypertension, COVID‐19 positivity, and the severity of mucormycosis. This study highlights the critical impact of diabetes, hypertension, and COVID‐19 on the incidence and severity of mucormycosis. Early diagnosis, comprehensive treatment strategies, and effective management of underlying conditions are essential to improve outcomes in mucormycosis patients. The findings underscore the need for heightened awareness and timely intervention to mitigate the high morbidity and mortality associated with this infection.
How to cite this article:
N. Sanjana and U. Venkatesh. Mucormycosis: Risk Factors And Treatment Outcome In A Tertiary Care Centre.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36478/10.36478/makrjms.2024.8.443.447
URL: https://www.makhillpublications.co/view-article/1815-9346/10.36478/makrjms.2024.8.443.447