A Microbiological Study on Abrupt Rise of Mucormycosis Cases in the Backdrop of Covid-19 in a Tertiary Care Hospital in West Bengal

Abstract

Background: There is increasing evidence of mucormycosis in COVID-19 patients during or post treatment caused by different microorganisms and for their culture, specimens from certain sites are collected. The present study was conducted to assess different genera causative of mucormycosis, to describe the suitability of specimens for their culture and to determine the relationship between mucormycosis and COVID-19. Methods: The descriptive cross sectional study was conducted among all the 50 samples which were received at Microbiology laboratory, Bankura Sammilani Medical College and Hospital during May to September 2021 inoculating them in SDA and SDCA media within a class II bio safety cabinet and after incubating for at least 7 days at room temperature, processing for 40% KOH mount and LCB staining were done. Slides were observed under light microscope. Principles of descriptive statistics were used. Chi square test was done where applicable. Results: 44% of samples showed no growth while 30% and 26% of them exhibited the growth of Mucor and Rhizopus respectively. Majority of the mucorales were seen growing on the samples collected from nasal septum followed by middle meatus and maxillary sinus. Significant association was noted between the occurrences of mucormycosis and infection with COVID19 (p = < 0.001) Conclusions: Mucor and Rhizopus are the main causative genera of mucormycosis and the suitable specimens for culture of them are tissue from nasal septum, middle meatus, maxillary sinus etc. Mucormycosis is significantly associated with COVID positivity.