Background: The present study was undertaken to study the histopathological features of leprosy in skin punch biopsies and to categories them in to various type based on microscopy and bacterial index. The aim of study was to know the role of histopathology in diagnosis of Hansen’s disease and to study the clinicohistopathological correlations of suspected cases of Hansen’s disease. Materials and methods: A retrospective hospital-based study of clinically diagnosed leprosy cases was conducted over a period of one year (April 2021 to March 2022). Lesional skin biopsies obtained were fixed, processed and stained with Haematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) followed by Fite-Faraco staining. The lesions were classified on microscopy as per Ridley-Jopling classification. Results: 63 Skin biopsies were obtained from patients with age range of 14-72 years. Highest incidence was in age group of 31 – 50 years. There was male predominance with male to female ratio of 2:1. Clinically borderline Hansen’s (BB) (25.40%) was the most frequent subtype observed followed by borderline lepromatous (BLH) (19.04%) and lepromatous Hansen’s (LL) (19.04%). On histopathology we found tuberculoid Hansen’s (TT) (28.57%) was the most frequently observed subtype followed by borderline tuberculoid Hansen’s (BT) (19.04%). Fite stain revealed lepromatous bacilli in all cases of LL, BL, histoid and indeterminate Hansen’s; whereas bacilli could be demonstrated in six cases of BB, eight cases of BT and two cases of TT. Conclusion: Early diagnosis of leprosy is clinically difficult as patient present in different clinicopathological form, depending on host immune status. Therefore combined clinical, histopathological and bacteriological features are required for accurate diagnosis and classification.

Introduction: SARS-COV-2 infection (COVID-19) may be associated with wide range of bacterial and fungal infections. Mucormycosis is a common and potentially life threatening opportunistic fungal infection responsible for morbidity and mortality. Many factors like diabetes mellitus, hypertension and corticosteroid therapy might have been a role in the immunocompromised state of the patients. The aim of present study was to know the predisposing factors and role of histopathology in diagnosis and assessing the prognosis of post COVID-19 mucormycosis cases. Material and methods: It is a prospective observational study conducted in tertiary care hospital over a period of 6 months from April 2021 to September 2021. Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) and maxillectomy samples from 157 post COVID-19 mucormycosis suspected cases were studied and details regarding history of diabetes mellitus, hypertension and corticosteroid therapy were retrieved. All tissue samples were examined under H&E stain and special fungal stain (PAS). Results: On histopathological examination, out of total 157 cases, 94 cases were found to be positive for mucormycosis. Of these 94 cases, 63 were males and 31 were females. Age range was from 23 to 75 years. 5 cases showed mixed mucormycosis and aspergillosis infection. Also out of 94 post COVID mucormycosis cases, 72 were diabetic, 21 were hypertensive and 68 had a history of corticosteroid intake for treatment of COVID-19 infection. Conclusion: Histopathology plays a pivotal role in accurate diagnosis and assessing the severity and invasiveness of mucormycosis. Diabetes mellitus and corticosteroid use are the important associated factors. Keywords: post COVID -19; mucormycosis; daibetes; steroid therapy