S econdary infections are known to complicate the clinical course of coronavirus disease . Bacterial infections are the most common secondary infections, but increasing reports of systemic fungal infections are causing concern. In the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic, <1% of secondary infections reported in COVID-19 patients were fungal (1,2). Preexisting conditions, indiscriminate use of antimicrobial and glucocorticoid drugs, and lapses in infection control practices are putative factors contributing to the emergence of systemic fungal infections in severe COVID-19 cases (3). After incidence of candidemia and invasive aspergillosis in COVID-19 patients increased (4,5), awareness of possible fungal co-infections increased among clinicians and microbiologists. One study reported invasive fungal infections in ≈6% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients (6). Occasional reports of COVID-19-associated mucormycosis (CAM) from various centers (7,8) and a series of 18 cases from a city in South India increased our concerns about CAM (9). India has a high burden of mucormycosis among patients with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, and many severe COVID-19 patients have diabetes (8,10). India also is one of the countries worst affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, we would expect India to have many CAM cases. We conducted a nationwide multicenter study to evaluate the epidemiology and outcomes of CAM and compare the results with cases of mucormycosis unrelated to COVID-19 (non-CAM). Methods Study Design and SettingWe conducted a retrospective observational study involving 16 healthcare centers across India (Figure 1).

COVID-19-Associated Mucormycosis Outbreak, India M ucormycosis is an invasive fungal infection associated with high death rates. Poorly controlled diabetes mellitus, organ transplantation, hematological malignancies, and immunosuppression are the known predisposing factors for mucormycosis (1). During the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (April-June 2021), a large number of cases of COVID-19-associated mucormycosis (CAM) were reported globally, primarily in India (2-5). The explanation for this outbreak of CAM in India remains unclear. Diabetes mellitus and glucocorticoids (used for treating COVID-19) have been identified as risk factors for CAM (2,6). Other factors proposed in the pathogenesis of CAM include altered iron metabolism, the severity of COVID-19, and immune dysfunction resulting from COVID-19 (e.g., lymphopenia and others) (7,8).A high burden of Mucorales (in the hospital and outdoor environments) has been reported in India

Background Risk factors for the development of severe COVID-19 disease and death have been widely reported across several studies. Knowledge about the determinants of severe disease and mortality in the Indian context can guide early clinical management. Methods We conducted a hospital-based case control study across nine sites in India to identify the determinants of severe and critical COVID-19 disease. Findings We identified age above 60 years, duration before admission >5 days, chronic kidney disease, leucocytosis, prothrombin time > 14 sec, serum ferritin >250 ng/mL, d-dimer >0.5 ng/mL, pro-calcitonin >0.15 μg/L, fibrin degradation products >5 μg/mL, C-reactive protein >5 mg/L, lactate dehydrogenase >150 U/L, interleukin-6 >25 pg/mL, NLR ≥3, and deranged liver function, renal function and serum electrolytes as significant factors associated with severe COVID-19 disease. Interpretation We have identified a set of parameters that can help in characterising severe COVID-19 cases in India. These parameters are part of routinely available investigations within Indian hospital settings, both public and private. Study findings have the potential to inform clinical management protocols and identify patients at high risk of severe outcomes at an early stage.

Objective: With COVID-19 pandemic severely affecting India and Ahmedabad city being one accounting for half COVID cases, objective was to determine disease course and severity of in patients at a COVID care hospital. Design: A Clinical trial registry of India registered observational study (CTRI/2020/05/025247). Setting: Certified COVID hospital located in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. Participants: 549 COVID positive patients hospitalized between 15 th May to 10 th August, 2020 and treated in ICU and non ICU settings. Main Outcome Measure: Comparative analysis of demographic, clinical characteristics, investigations, treatment, complications and outcome of COVID patients in ICU and non ICU settings. Results: Of the 549 hospitalized COVID positive patients, 159 were admitted in ICU during disease course while 390 had ward admissions. Overall median age was 52 (1-86) years. The ICU group was older (>65years), with associated comorbidities like hypertension and diabetes (p<0.001); higher proportion of males (79.25%); with dyspnea as a major clinical characteristic and consolidation in lungs as a major radiological finding as compared to ward patients. C - reactive protein, D-Dimer and Ferritin were higher in ICU patients. Overall 50% females depicted elevated Ferritin levels. Steriods(92.45%)and tocilizumab (69.18%) were more frequently used for ICU patients . Remdesivir was prescribed to both ICU and non ICU patients. Favirapir was also a line of treatment for 25% of ICU patients. Convalescent plasma therapy was given to 7 ICU patients. Complications like acute kidney injury (13.84%), shock (10.69 %), sepsis and encephalopathy were observed in ICU patients. Overall mortality rate was 5.47 % with higher mortality among males in comparison to females (p<0.0001). Conclusion: About 29% of overall patients required ICU admission that was commonly elderly males. Chances of ICU admission were higher with baselines comorbidities (1.5 times) and dyspnea (3.4 times) respectively. A multi-specialty COVID care team and updated treatment protocols improves outcomes.

BackgroundHigh mortality has been described in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with cytokine release syndrome (CRS). Tocilizumab (TCZ), an interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor antagonist may be associated with improved outcomes in such patients; however, the subgroups of patients who benefit the most need to be identified.ObjectiveTo analyze the efficacy and optimal timing of administration of TCZ in moderate to severe COVID-19 with features of CRS, where the response to steroids was poor.MethodsThis is a retrospective study of 125 patients admitted between May 5 to July 31, 2020, in a tertiary care hospital in western India, with moderate to severe COVID-19 who were treated with TCZ along with steroids. The primary outcomes were the need for mechanical ventilation (MV) or death, and secondary outcomes were a decrease in oxygen requirement and inflammatory markers; the incidence of secondary infections, and renal or hepatic dysfunction. Kaplan Meier survival analysis and log rank test were used for evaluating primary outcomes. Secondary outcomes were analyzed using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test.ResultsAmong 1081 patients admitted during the study period, 125 were administered TCZ (median age, 56 [95% CI 54 - 60] years; 100 [80%] male). The commonest symptoms were fever (96%), cough (64%), and dyspnea (48.8%). 78.4% patients had comorbidities (hypertension 51.2%, diabetes 43.2%, obesity 25.6% and chronic cardiac disease 13.6%). Of 117 patients who were treated with TCZ before requiring MV, 18.8% progressed to MV. Overall, 25% of the patients needed MV support. 65.3% of patients were discharged by day 14 after TCZ administration. Mortality was nil, 16.2%, 50%, and 62.5% in patients who received TCZ on room air, low flow oxygen, high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) and bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP), and MV respectively; overall 24.8% of patients died. Survival analysis showed no difference in outcome with respect to age and gender, while progression to MV showed a statistically significant reduction for the event death (90.9% of patients who progressed to MV died as compared to 6.3% who did not; log rank test with p < 0.0001). No adverse events were noticed.ConclusionMortality was least in patients of COVID-19 with CRS who received TCZ while on low flow oxygen. When administered in the early hypoxemic phase, TCZ is associated with reduced mortality and decreased need for mechanical ventilation.