Mucormycosis and COVID-19: A Review of the Black Fungus and Opportunistic Fungal Infections
Author(s): Felicity Osula, Onaolapo Oluwatayo, Oluwasegun Shoewu, Firas Kadurei, Henna Pervaiz, Ijeoma Akabalu, Jennifer Asuquo, Ayesha ali, Odunayo Susan Lawal, Dolly Ogwu, Jennifer Erinma Udeogu, Iyanu Vict
The novel coronavirus disease (2019) (COVID-19) arose from Wuhan, China in late 2019. It has posed a threat to global healthcare systems across developed and developing countries. The symptoms of the fungal disease may manifest similarly to those with COVID-19, including shortness of breath, cough, and fever. Recently, reports also describe the incidence of COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis, in addition to bloodstream infections including candidemia, histoplasmosis, blastomycosis, and Valley fever. Of imminent concern is mucormycosis which affects the brain, lungs, sinuses, and is life-threatening for severely immunocompromised patients such as patients with HIV/AIDS or cancer, and diabetics. In the following review, we intend to propose the correlation of mucormycosis and COVID-19 and support the associations to opportunistic fungal infections. We suggest that a multidisciplinary approach is required to ensure the reversal of any underlying or associated conditions to mucormycosis and other fungal infections.