Mucormycosis 'Black Fungus' new challenge associated with COVID 19

Al-Khikani, F.

Corona virus-19 disease (COVID-19), caused by SARS-Cov-2. What was initially considered to be another worldwide flu epidemic mostly affecting the respiratory system has now emerged as a multi-organ disease, the most common extra-pulmonary involved organs include the blood vessels, eyes, heart, gastrointestinal tract, liver, skin, and kidneys. A growing number of case reports and series describe opportunistic fungal infections in COVID-19 patients. Co-morbidities such as diabetes mellitus, coupled with immune dysfunction and use of steroids, are hypothesized as the main causes. More recently, many cases of mucormycosis 'black fungus' have been reported, particularly in Asian countries such as India. Mucormycosis is a rare angio-invasive illness caused by the fungi Mucorales, which is often seen in immunecompromised patients. Rhino-orbitocerebral, cutaneous, disseminated, gastrointestinal, and pulmonary forms of this unusual fungal infection exist. COVID-19 and Mucormycosis, Risks factors associated with Mucormycosis in COVID 19, Immune system response to mucormycosis, fungal pneumonias can resemble COVID-19, as well as prevention of these fungal will be discussed in this review. © 2021 BMJ Publishing Group. All rights reserved.