Mandibular Mucormycosis Following Severe COVID-19 in a Patient With Chronic Drug Abuse: A Case Report

Mucormycosis is an infection caused by mucoral fungi, particularly the genera Rhizopus, Rhizomucor, and Mucor. It leads to invasive necrotic lesions primarily in the nose and palate, manifesting symptoms such as pain, fever, orbital cellulitis, proptosis, and purulent rhinorrhea, among others. The predominant manifestations of this infection include rhino-orbital-brain and pulmonary forms, which occur predominantly in individuals with immunosuppression or diabetes. Mucormycosis is an uncommon pathology associated with a high mortality rate. Standard treatment involves the use of antimycotics and surgical intervention to remove necrotic tissue. However, even with appropriate treatment, the prognosis remains poor, and mortality continues to be substantial. This report presents the case of a 53-year-old male diagnosed with mucormycosis following severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The patient had a 40-year history of drug addiction and underwent maxillectomy and mandibulectomy, along with extended treatment with antimycotics, resulting in a favorable recovery. One year post-follow-up, the patient exhibits no clinical or imaging evidence of infection and uses a palatine obturator. The report describes a rare case of mandibular mucormycosis temporally associated with severe COVID-19, where virus-related immunosuppression (and its treatment) likely facilitated fungal invasion.