RAPID DIAGNOSIS OF INVASIVE FUNGAL INFECTION DURING COVID PANDEMIC ERA-ROLE OF POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE PREPARATION

M.C. PATANKAR¹, S.T. SONI²*, H.S. SHAH³, V.R. PATEL⁴, S.C. UPADHYAY⁵, P.M. PATEL⁶, P.P. ROHIT^7
1Department of Microbiology, B. J. Medical College, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 380016, India
²Department of Microbiology, B. J. Medical College, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 380016, India
³Department of Microbiology, B. J. Medical College, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 380016, India
⁴Department of Microbiology, B. J. Medical College, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 380016, India
⁵Department of Microbiology, B. J. Medical College, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 380016, India
⁶Department of Microbiology, B. J. Medical College, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 380016, India
⁷Department of Microbiology, B. J. Medical College, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 380016, India
* Corresponding Author : drsumeetasoni@gmail.com

Received : 01-09-2021     Accepted : 26-09-2021     Published : 30-09-2021
Volume : 13     Issue : 4       Pages : 1963 - 1965
Int J Microbiol Res 13.4 (2021):1963-1965

Keywords : Mucormycosis, Covid 19 infection, KOH preparation
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : Authors are thankful to Department of Microbiology, B. J. Medical College, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 380016, India
Author Contribution : All authors equally contributed

Introduction: Mucormycosis is a life-threatening angioinvasive infection caused by fungi of the order Mucorales and class of Mucormycetes. It is common in covid and diabeticketoacidosis patients. Main sources of mucormycosis in hospital settings are mechanical supply of oxygen and environmental contamination. It is rapid grower, angioinvasive and destructive for human body, so rapid diagnosis and treatment is necessary. Methods: This study was conducted for suspected samples received at microbiology laboratory of civil hospital during May and June 2021. Samples are treated with KOH preparations and findings were noted down. All findings are compared with biopsy findings and radiological findings and results are noted down. Result: A total of 1070 samples were screened from which 204 samples were found positive for fungal elements resembling mucormycosis showing that it was more prevalent among all fungal infections in that time period. Highest number of positive samples are tissue samples. More number of samples are of male patients than female patients. Age group of 31-60 years are more affected from this disease. More number of positive patients are diabetic considering it as a risk factor for this disease. Conclusion: After pandemic wave of covid 19 there was increasing prevalence of mucormycosis patients showing some relation of it to covid 19 infection. Mucormycosis was most prevalent fungal infection among all fungal infections in that post covid 19 pandemic wave. As it was fatal to human beings it was necessary to detect this fungal infection by any rapid proven method and KOH preparation method was proven as best method for rapid detection

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