Clinical and mycological investigations of post‐COVID‐19 acute invasive fungal sinusitis

OBJECTIVES: An increased incidence of acute invasive fungal sinusitis associated with the recent COVID‐19 pandemic has been observed, which is considered a public health concern. This study aims to detect the incidence, risk factors, causative agents, clinical presentations, outcomes, and susceptibility rate of various antifungals. METHODS: In this cross‐sectional cohort study, a total of 30 patients showing acute invasive fungal rhinosinusitis following a COVID‐19 infection were investigated. Histopathological biopsies, culture identification, and molecular confirmation of the causative agents were conducted. The demographic data, risk factors, clinical presentations, treatment regimen and its outcomes, and efficacy of antifungals were listed and analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 30 cases with a mean age of 59.6 ± 11.9 years were included. Diabetes mellitus was the most recorded comorbidity with a rate of 86.7%, whereas most of the patients received corticosteroids. The mycological examination confirmed the existence of Mucor (Rhizopus oryzae) and Aspergillus (Aspergillus niger) in 96.7% and 3.3% of the cases, respectively. Various stages of sinonasal involvement (ethmoid, maxillary, sphenoid, and inferior turbinate) represented 100%, 83.3%, 66.7%, and 86.7% of the cases, respectively. Headache and facial pain, ophthalmoplegia, visual loss, and blindness represented 100%, 66.7%, 90%, and 53.3% of the cases, respectively. All the cases were simultaneously treated with surgical debridement and amphotericin B. Moreover, R. oryzae was susceptible to it, whereas A. niger was sensitive to voriconazole, resulting in a survival rate of 86.7% (26/30). The R. oryzae and A. niger isolates were proven to be sensitive to acetic acid, ethyl alcohol, formalin, and isopropyl alcohol. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with COVID‐19, the diagnosis of acute invasive fungal sinusitis and prompt treatment with antifungal medicine and surgical debridement are important in achieving better outcomes and survival rates. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4