Mucormycosis or black fungus: An emerging threat in COVID-19

Bhadra, Abhishek; Ahmed, Sharmeen; Rahman, Mohammed Atiqur; Islam, Samprity

doi:10.3329/bsmmuj.v14i3.54682

Cited by 6 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…About three-quarters of Iraqi HCPs knew that black fungus had been diagnosed before the emergence of COVID-19 and still occurring. This result was in line with Bhadra et al, (2021) study which concluded that it is not a new disease but the number of infected patients increased recently during the COVID-19 pandemic 16 . They listed subjects who are at higher risk of getting black fungus immunocompromised patients, uncontrolled diabetes, and COVID-19 patients on steroids.…”

Section: Associations Between the Participants' Knowledge Level And T...supporting

confidence: 89%

Black Fungus What Do We Know About It? Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Health Care Professionals in Iraq

Al-Shamaa,

Al-Obaidy

2023

Bulletin of Pharmaceutical Sciences Assiut University

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Background: Black fungus is a serious infectious disease caused by mucoromycetes. The first cases of black fungus among patients with COVID-19 were reported in India in December 2020, followed by new cases in other countries like Iraq. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of healthcare professionals (HCPs) toward black fungus. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study, in which HCPs who are members of the Iraqi syndicate of physicians, dentists, and pharmacists from different Iraqi cities participated in this online survey between the 11 th of September and the 11 th of November 2021. Results: In total 340 HCPs participated in this study. 55% of participating HCPs had a poor level of knowledge. 52% of participating HCPs thought that COVID-19 vaccination could protect the person from black fungus disease. 44% of the participating HCPs thought that black fungus can be prevented in COVID-19 patients through the wise use of steroids and good glycemic control in diabetic patients. 96% of HCPs thought that the best management plan for black fungus includes antifungal therapy plus surgery. Conclusions: Although the majority of HCPs have general information about black fungus, the level of knowledge regarding different aspects of the disease is poor. Iraqi HCPs required more comprehensive educational programs to increase their knowledge of black fungus and other infectious diseases.

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Section: Associations Between the Participants' Knowledge Level And T...supporting

confidence: 89%

Black Fungus What Do We Know About It? Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Health Care Professionals in Iraq

Al-Shamaa,

Al-Obaidy

2023

Bulletin of Pharmaceutical Sciences Assiut University

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“…Recently, with the COVID-19 pandemic, the incidence of zygomycosis, colloquially called "black fungus", has increased. Spore germination occurs due to various reasons such as low oxygen saturation, high iron levels as evidenced by high ferritin, immunosuppression caused by SARS-CoV-2, decreased phagocytic activity of white blood cells, and hyperglycemia from corticosteroid use [30]. These are all conditions for the development of zygomycosis and candidiasis.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Croton cajucara Essential Oil Nanoemulsion and Its Antifungal Activities

et al. 2021

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The purpose of this study was to develop a stable nanoemulsion (NE) containing Croton cajucara 7-hydroxycalamenene-rich essential oil (NECC) with antifungal activity. The NECCs were prepared using an ultrasonic processor with Pluronic® F-127 as the aqueous phase. In order to evaluate the NECCs, the droplet size, polydispersity index (PdI), percentage of emulsification, and pH were determined along with a stability study. The NECC selected for the study had 15% surfactant, showed 100% emulsification, Pdl of 0.249, neutral pH, droplet diameters of about 40 nm, and remained stable over 150 days at room temperature. In addition, the NECC activity against some species of Zygomycetes and Candida, as well as the potential to inhibit fungal extracellular proteases, were assessed, and, finally, the hemolytic activity was evaluated. The best NECC antifungal activities were against Mucorramosissimus (Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) = 12.2 μg/mL) and Candida albicans (MIC = 25.6 μg/mL). The highest extracellular protease activities of M. ramosissimus and C. albicans were detected at pH 3 and 4, respectively, which were totally inhibited after NECC treatment. The NECC showed no hemolytic effect at the highest concentration tested (2 mg/mL).

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“…In many cases, the patients hardly visit the health centers for treatment and the health experts detect the early signs of the disease leading to the high infection rate and hence death. Once the condition has been detected, it might force a particular physician to remove a part of the body like the eye to stop further spread [ 98 ].…”

Section: The Interplay Between Black Fungus and Sars-cov-2mentioning

confidence: 99%

Identifying Mucormycosis Severity in Indian COVID-19 Patients: A Nano-Based Diagnosis and the Necessity for Critical Therapeutic Intervention

Asdaq¹,

Rajan

Damodaran

et al. 2021

Antibiotics

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The COVID-19 infection caused by the new SARS-CoV-2 virus has been linked to a broad spectrum of symptoms, from a mild cough to life-threatening pneumonia. As we learn more about this unusual COVID-19 epidemic, new issues are emerging and being reported daily. Mucormycosis, also known as zygomycosis or phycomycosis, causes severe fungal illness to individuals with a weakened immune system. It is a devastating fungal infection, and the most frequent kind is the rhino cerebral type. As a devastating second wave of COVID-19 sweeps India, doctors report several instances involving a strange illness—sometimes known as the “black fungus”—among returning and recovered COVID-19 patients. This paper analyzes the existing statistical data to address the severity of prevalence and further notes the nano-based diagnostic parameters, clinical presentations, its connection with other conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and GI disorders, and the importance of anti-fungal therapy in treating the same. Anti-fungal therapies, as well as surgical interventions, are currently used for the treatment of the disease. Proper and timely diagnosis is necessary, along with the reduction in the spread of COVID-19. From the review, it was found that timely pharmacologic interventions and early diagnosis by using a nano-based diagnostic kit can help control the disease. Additionally, this paper provides novel information about the nanotechnology approaches such as fungal detection biosensors, nucleic acids-based testing, point-of-care tests, and galactomannans detection, in the diagnosis of mucormycosis, and thereby reinforces the need for further research on the topic.

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Mucormycosis or black fungus: An emerging threat in COVID-19

Abstract: not available BSMMU J 2021; 14 (COVID -19 Supplement): 51-56

Cited by 6 publications

References 28 publications

Black Fungus What Do We Know About It? Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Health Care Professionals in Iraq

Black Fungus What Do We Know About It? Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Health Care Professionals in Iraq

Croton cajucara Essential Oil Nanoemulsion and Its Antifungal Activities

Identifying Mucormycosis Severity in Indian COVID-19 Patients: A Nano-Based Diagnosis and the Necessity for Critical Therapeutic Intervention

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