Acute Invasive Fungal Rhinosinusitis and Coronavirus Disease 2019

Acute invasive fungal rhinosinusitis (AIFRS) - A histopathological analysis of expanding spectrum of fungal infections in backdrop of COVID-19 pandemic

Context

Acute invasive fungal rhinosinusitis (AIFRS) is an aggressive infection affecting immunocompromised patients and carries a high morbidity and mortality. It is commonly seen in immunocompromised patients, mainly in uncontrolled diabetes, malignancy, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, and so on. However, there has been an exponential increase in the incidence of AIFRS in relation to recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection.

Aims

We present this study to assess histomorphological features of fungal infections in the background of COVID-19 era.

Materials and Methods

The study includes interpretation of 34 biopsies of suspected AIFRS in post COVID-19 patients. The demographic details like patients age, sex, diabetic status, COVID-19 status, and history of steroid intake were collected. All specimens were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and PAS stain. Detailed microscopic examination including the presence of fungal hyphae in the tissue, characterization of inflammatory response, presence of tissue invasion, angioinvasion, and necrosis was noted for each case.

Results

Thirty-four biopsy specimens from various sites - nasal cavity, maxillary sinus, ethmoid sinus, and so on - were studied. The mean age of the patients with AIFRS was 52.68 years. The dominant fungi were Mucorales in 31 (91.3%), Aspergillus and Mucorales in 1 (2.9%), a combination of Mucorales and Candida identified in 1 (2.9%) case, and Candida alone in 1 case (2.9%). Bony invasion and perineural invasion were observed in 5 cases (14.7%) and 1 (2.9%) case, respectively.

Conclusion

Histopathological examination plays an essential role in the diagnosis and appropriate management of the patients. Histopathological features including characterization of fungi, angioinvasion, and bone invasion may provide information on rare dreaded infections in post-COVID-19 patients for possible prognostic characteristics on histology.

Post-Covid mucormycosis presenting as retropharyngeal abscess: a rare case report

Background

Post-Covid retropharyngeal mucormycosis is a rare presentation, and no case has been reported in literature until date.

Case presentation

A-32-year-old female post Covid presented to our OPD with history of dysphagia and with a history of steroid intake. Radiology confirmed it as retropharyngeal abscess. Endoscopic-guided aspiration was done. HPE (histopathological examination) revealed classic broad aseptate hyphae of mucormycosis. Patient was managed conservatively with broad-spectrum antifungal.

Conclusion

Retropharyngeal mucormycosis is a rare entity in Covid era. Rapid diagnosis and management are needed to save life of an individual, or results could be fatal.

COVID-19-associated mucormycosis involving the maxilla

It is important to increase the awareness and knowledge of head and neck surgeons about the recent surge of craniofacial mucormycosis in COVID-19 patients because early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are essential to improve the outcomes. Here, we describe clinical features, treatment protocols, and outcomes of treatment in eight patients with COVID-19-associated mucormycosis in the maxilla. Consistent with the findings of previous studies, our experience in the management of these eight patients shows that early administration of amphotericin B and prompt aggressive surgery are essential for optimal control of the disease.

COVID-19-related acute invasive fungal rhinosinusitis: risk factors associated with mortality

Background

Acute invasive fungal rhinosinusitis (AIFRS) is a rare aggressive life-threatening infection that affects immunocompromised individuals. Recently, an increase in the incidence of this infection has been reported in patients who have SARS-CoV-2 infection or recently recovered. This study was to assess the outcome and define risk factors that might affect the outcome in SARS-CoV-2-related AIFRS. A prospective observational study included 54 patients diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2-related AIFRS. Controlling the predisposing factors, systemic antifungal, and early surgical debridement was performed. The mortality rate was calculated. Age, sex, underlying risk factors, the extent of the disease, debridement technique, and other biochemical variables were evaluated regarding their impact on survival. Patients were followed up for 3 months.

Results

Fifty-four patients with a mean age of 48.1 years. Diabetes mellitus was the most common comorbidity affecting 52 patients (96.3%). Intracranial and intraorbital extension had a predictive value for mortality (P value 0.050 and 0.049 respectively). However, only intracranial extension was the independent predictor of mortality. Biochemical variables were higher than the normal range, but only serum ferritin level above 165 ng/ml was an independent predictor of mortality in patients with AIFR. The mortality rate was 38.9%.

Conclusion

The extent of the disease has a major impact on survival, so early diagnosis of AIFRS within patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 or recently recovered is essential to reduce mortality.

RHINOSINUSITIS IN PATIENTS IN POST-COVID-19 PERIOD: ETIOLOGY, CLINICAL AND MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS

OBJECTIVE

The aim is to identify the etiology, clinical and morphological features of rhinosinusitis in patients in post-COVID-19 period.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Materials and methods: In the present study, it was carried out the analysis of 11 cases of rhinosinusitis, which developed after COVID-19 infection. The diagnosis of rhi¬nosinusitis was established on the basis of anamnesis, clinical and laboratory examination, specialized instrumental examination (rhinoendoscopy, X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging, spiral and 3D computed tomography). All patients underwent endoscopic sanitation of the nasal cavity, expansion of the maxillary anastomosis, maxillary sinusotomy, sanitation of the maxillary sinuses and removal of pathologically altered tissues. Microbiological examination of the swab from the nasal cavity was carried out in all patients. Histological and morphometric research methods were used during the morphological study of surgical material. The nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the means in the groups.

RESULTS

Results: The conducted comprehensive study made it possible to identify chronic atrophic rhinosinusitis at the stage of exacerbation caused by associations of bacteria and fungi in patients in post-COVID-19 period. Among bacteria, the authors most often noted Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Klebsiella pneumonia, Streptococcus pneumonia and Enterococcus faecalis. Among fungi, there were Aspergillus, Candida, Mucor and Coccidioides. Fungal infection was characterized by invasion into the mucous membrane of the nose and paranasal sinuses. In patients in post-COVID-19 period the invasive bacterial-fungal chronic atrophic rhinosinusitis at the stage of exacerbation was predominantly bilateral, characterized by the involvement of several or all paranasal sinuses in the process. Patients with such pathology complained of periodic fever, headaches and malaise; nasal congestion and constant difficulty in nasal breathing; yellowish-greenish-reddish discharge from the nasal cavity, sometimes with a fetid odor; discomfort and pain in the area of paranasal sinuses; immobility of the eyeball, hyposmia or anosmia; reduction or complete loss of vision. Frequent risk factors for the development of invasive bacterial-fungal chronic atrophic rhinosinusitis at the stage of exacerbation in patients in post-COVID-19 period were the information about moderate or severe course of this infection in anamnesis; comorbidities (predominantly diabetes mellitus, hypertensive disease and ischemic heart disease).

CONCLUSION

Conclusions: The study conducted by the authors made it possible to identify the etiological, clinical and morphological features, as well as risk factors of rhinosinusitis in patients in post-COVID-19 period. This information will contribute to a better understanding of such pathology by the doctors and improve the diagnostic and treatment process.