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The Rising Threat of Mucormycosis: Oman’s Experience Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Summary

Mucormycosis is a serious fungal infection that became much more common in Oman during the COVID-19 pandemic. Most patients had diabetes and nearly half had COVID-19, with very high death rates. The infection primarily affects the sinuses and brain, and requires aggressive treatment with surgery and antifungal medications. This study shows doctors need better tools to detect and treat this dangerous infection, especially during health crises.

Background

Mucormycosis is a rare, severe fungal infection affecting immunocompromised individuals. Limited epidemiological data exists for Oman, making this national study important for understanding the disease burden and impact of COVID-19 on mucormycosis incidence.

Objective

This study aims to describe demographics, clinical presentation, outcomes, and causative agents of invasive mucormycosis cases in Oman between 2006 and 2022, comparing pre- and post-COVID-19 pandemic periods.

Results

51 mucormycosis cases were identified with pre-pandemic incidence of 0.38-0.69 cases per million, rising to 5.31 per million in 2021 during the pandemic. Diabetes was present in 82.4% of cases, COVID-19 in 47.1%, and overall mortality was 41.2%, with 58.3% mortality in COVID-19 patients. Rhizopus species were the most common causative agent.

Conclusion

Mucormycosis incidence significantly increased during COVID-19 pandemic in Oman. The study emphasizes the need for inclusion of mucormycosis in national notifiable disease lists and enhanced diagnostic capacities to improve patient outcomes.
  • Published in:Journal of Fungi,
  • Study Type:Retrospective Multicenter Study,
  • Source: 10.3390/jof10110796, PMID: 39590715
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