Document Type : Review
Authors
1
Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Faculty of Basic Sciences and Advanced Technologies in Biology, University of Science and Culture, Tehran, Iran
2
Department of Medical Mycology , Faculty of Medicine, Tonekabon branch ,Islamic azad university, Tonekabon, Iran.
3
Department of Food Hygiene, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
4
Department of Pathobiology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
5
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
10.22034/ijmcm.2023.1980946.1277
Abstract
Mucormycosis is a severe and potentially fatal fungal infection caused by opportunistic fungi belonging to the class Zygomycetes. Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) is a severe worldwide disease. One of the problems faced by Covid-19 patients is concurrent infection with microbial agents such as life-threatening fungal infections. Studies show that people with diabetes who have recovered from COVID-19 are more likely to develop mucormycosis. In addition, patients with COVID-19 are at increased risk of acute heart damage, arrhythmias, thromboembolic complication, and secondary infection. However, the exact reasons and mechanisms of increasing this deadly infection need to be investigated to understand the pathogenicity and discover reasonable ways of prevention and treatment. Studies show that increasing overuse of steroids, antibiotics, and zinc as an act of self-medication during the Covid-19 epidemy may increase intestinal microbiota dysbiosis, thereby suppressing the system—immunity in the group at risk of this fungus. Ocular and cerebral mucormycosis is the most common form of the disease, with a mortality rate of over 49%, especially in patients with pulmonary or diffuse or cerebral mucormycosis. In addition, a significant proportion of survivors of the disease showed symptoms such as 46% vision loss. This article addresses potential mechanisms, host-related factors, pathogenicity, and innate and acquired immune system responses that may help understand the mystery of the sudden, severe, and fatal increase in mucormycosis infections due to Covid-19. Early detection of such conditions with the above-mentioned consequences is vital for optimal treatment and better results.
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