Comparison Between Pre-COVID and Post-COVID Mucormycosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Mycology
• Infectious Diseases
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Mucormycosis is a life-threatening fungal infection.
• It has emerged as a significant complication of COVID-19.
• The disease can also cause severe illness independently.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the threat of mucormycosis, examining its prevalence and severity.
• To compare mucormycosis in the pre- and post-COVID-19 eras.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted across online databases.
• 103 out of 207 identified papers were analyzed in-depth.
• 15 studies meeting inclusion criteria were selected for review.

Main Results:

• Mucormycosis was linked to coronavirus in 7 of the 15 reviewed studies.
• The remaining 8 studies involved patients with systemic diseases like diabetes and HIV/AIDS.
• All patients had diabetes mellitus and received corticosteroids and antifungal medications.

Conclusions:

• Despite COVID-19, diabetes remains a prevalent predisposing factor for mucormycosis.
• Treatment modalities, including antifungals and corticosteroids, remain consistent.
• Mucormycosis associated with COVID-19 exhibits distinct characteristics in mortality and virulence compared to pre-pandemic cases.