What is this ‘black fungus’ infection?

By Dr. Kavindya Marapana

Sri Lanka is in the process of recovering from the most severe COVID-19 wave, dominated by the Delta strain. At the time of writing, 513,278 cases of COVID-19 had been confirmed from all parts of the country with 12,600 deaths. It has affected physical and mental health, the economy, education and the overall wellbeing of people across the globe.

The government and relevant authorities are fighting the pandemic effectively, utilising the relevant healthcare services and facilities to manage patients, aided by lockdowns and the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination programme. More than 50 percent of the population have received both doses of vaccines.

Meanwhile, several cases of ‘black fungus’ infections have been reported among COVID-19 patients in hospitals in Colombo, Kurunegala and Ratnapura. With the experience of our neighbouring country India, reporting more than 45,000 cases of black fungus infection among COVID-19 patients, causing more than 4,300 deaths, it is of utmost importance for us to be aware of this condition and to adopt preventive measures to avoid such a deleterious situation.

Consultant Mycologist of Medical Research Institute, Colombo, Dr. Primali Jayasekera, in a brief interview with The Island, answers some frequently asked questions about the black fungus infection.

Q: What is ‘black fungus’ infection?

It is a rare but life-threatening fungal infection, known as mucormycosis and colloquially as ‘black fungus’, caused by fungi belonging to the Mucorales group.

Q: Is this infection new to Sri Lanka?

Mucormycosis has been diagnosed among immunocompromised patients (patients with weakened immune systems) in Sri Lanka, over the years, and it is not an uncommon infection among Sri Lankans. It has a worldwide distribution. Found ubiquitous in soil and decomposing organic matter. It can be found indoors and outdoors, in rotten food and dust. In addition, being a temperate country, Sri Lanka has the optimum temperature for the fungi to grow.

Q: How would someone get infected by it?

Most infections occur following inhalation of fungal spores in the air. As a result, nasal sinuses and lungs are the commonest initial sites of infection. Skin infections have also been reported following traumatic inoculation and following injections. Cases have been reported following ingestion of contaminated food as well.

Q. Who is at risk of getting infected?

Patients with prolonged or profound neutropenia (low neutrophils in blood), diabetes mellitus (type I and II), metabolic acidosis, malnutrition, steroid users, bone-marrow transplant recipients, solid organ transplant recipients, patients with haematological malignancies (blood cancers), patients with burn injuries and injection drug users are at risk of developing this infection. It has also been detected among some patients with no apparent immunological defects.

Q. Are COVID-19 patients at a higher risk of getting infected?

Some COVID-19 patients are being treated for cytokine storm, and this is essential. But if such a patient has a weakened immune system, due to some other cause, he or she is more susceptible to mucormycosis infection, compared to a non-COVID-19 infected person with a weak immune system.

Q. What are the symptoms suggestive of the infection?

It depends on the site of infection. The commonest sites of infection are the nasal and adjacent sinuses (rhino cerebral mucormycosis) and lungs. Patients can present with fever, facial swelling (affecting one side of the face), unilateral headache, nasal or sinus congestion or pain and a blood-tinged nasal discharge.

Characteristic diagnostic signs include necrotic black ulceration on the hard palate or nasal turbinates, drooping eyelids, proptosis (protrusion of eyes), ophthalmoplegia (eye muscles not working properly), loss of vision and oozing of black pus from eyes.

Q. How is it treated? What complications can one develop?

Surgical excision and antifungal drugs are mandatory in treatment. Complications include infection spreading to the eye socket, swelling around the nose and eyes with progressive destruction of facial tissues. Infection can spread to the brain affecting the frontal lobe and form abscesses within the brain.

Q. How can one prevent infection?

It can be prevented by

• Adequate control of diabetes mellitus.

• In immunocompromised individuals, reducing the sources of environmental exposure (refraining from gardening, consumption of old and contaminated food, use of contaminated surgical dressing, syringes and such) and avoiding inhalation of spores during critical periods.

• Avoiding contact with COVID-19 patients or suspected individuals.

• Taking both doses of COVID-19 vaccine.

• Always using a clean face mask.

• If diagnosed with COVID-19, receiving treatment from a qualified doctor, as self-medicating with western medicine is very dangerous due to side effects which can make you more susceptible to mucormycosis.

Consequently, it is observed that some individuals are at higher risk of developing conditions such as black fungus infection during COVID-19 infection, and this can lead to severe disability and even death due to already existing comorbidities, as opposed to healthy individuals.

Therefore, it is our duty as responsible citizens to adhere to health guidelines, get fully vaccinated and help control and eventually eliminate this pandemic.