Secondary infection with rhino-orbital cerebral mucormycosis associated with COVID-19
Liane O. Dallalzadeh, Daniel J. Ozzello, Catherine Y. Liu, Don O. Kikkawa, Bobby S. Korn
Abstract
We report two fatal cases of rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis associated with COVID-19 infection. Both patients had pre-existing diabetes mellitus type 2, were treated with corticosteroids, and developed ketoacidosis. Both patients rapidly declined owing to rapid extension of the infection into the intracranial cavity. We postulate that additional risk factors for opportunistic fungal infection exist in COVID-19 patients including mechanical ventilation and Sars-CoV-2 induced immunosuppression. The ophthalmologist's role is particularly important in the early diagnosis of mucormycosis associated with COVID-19.
Topics & Concepts
MucormycosisMedicineImmunosuppressionDiabetic ketoacidosisCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)Diabetes mellitusMechanical ventilationOpportunistic infectionDermatologySurgeryPathologyInternal medicineImmunologyHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV)DiseaseInfectious disease (medical specialty)Viral diseaseEndocrinologyRetinal and Optic ConditionsLong-Term Effects of COVID-19Vasculitis and related conditions