Sunday, 16 May 2021 | PNS | New Delhi
Misuse of steroids is a major cause behind rising cases of black fungus, also known as mucormycosis infection, among vulnerable Covid-19 patients, including those suffering from diabetes, AIIMS director Dr Randeep Guleria on Saturday said, asking the doctors to follow Government protocol while dealing with such drugs.
He said that patients who are diabetic or Covid-19 positive and are taking steroids have an increased chance of contracting the fungal infection as it could lead to weakened immune systems.
“It is thus all the more important to properly follow protocols of infection control practices at hospitals,” he said, indicating that during
Covid-19, patients prescribed heavy and prolonged steroid doses can have weakened immune systems.
Mucormycosis spores are found in soil, air, and even in food, said the AIIMS chief while addressing a press conference here on Saturday. He said that the black fungus can affect the face, infecting the nose, orbit of the eye, or brain, which can even cause vision loss. He added that it can also spread to the lung.
In a new advisory over black fungus infection, the Centre has asked people to be extra careful regarding infection protocols since the fungus enters the body through a cut, scrape, burn, or other types of skin trauma when the skin comes in contact with fungal spores in the environment.
There were very few cases before Covid-19, but a large number of cases are only being reported in recent times due to the coronavirus disease infection, which affects immunity. Since steroids like dexamethasone also repress the immune system, it is necessary to be extra careful regarding its use, now more so than ever.
The statement follows several deaths being reported from the country due to infections caused by the black fungus.
Earlier in the day, the Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij said black fungus has been declared a notified disease in the state. “Now, if any cases of this disease are found, the doctors will have to report them to the concerned chief medical officer (CMO),” Vij said.
Dr Anoop Misra, Chairman. Fortis CDOC Hospital for Diabetes and Allied Sciences said, “physicians should use steroids judiciously, and use insulin aggressively to control sugar. Once that is done, black fungus will not occur.”
Experts say that those with compromised immune systems, for example, those with blood cancer undergoing chemotherapy or bone-marrow transplant (BMT) patients who can’t form neutrophils-a type of white blood cell that defends against infections-in the initial weeks, are vulnerable to black fungus.
