Published online Oct 6, 2022. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v10.i28.10358
Peer-review started: June 20, 2022
First decision: August 4, 2022
Revised: August 12, 2022
Accepted: August 21, 2022
Article in press: August 21, 2022
Published online: October 6, 2022
Processing time: 98 Days and 23.4 Hours
Reports of mucormycosis, an infectious disease that commonly affects immunocompromised individuals, have increased during the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Disseminated mucormycosis associated with COVID-19 is rare but fatal and is characterized by an aggressive clinical course and delayed diagnosis. Our report documents a case of disseminated mucor
A 58-year-old man was transferred to our hospital with severe COVID-19 pneumonia. During treatment for acute respiratory distress syndrome, he developed intra-abdominal bleeding that required a right hemicolectomy and ileostomy for hemostasis. The ileostoma and surgical wound developed necrosis followed by sepsis and multi-organ failure, which led to death. An autopsy revealed multiple thrombi associated with Rhizopus oryzae infection, which led to the necrosis of multiple infected organs.
Early suspicion and diagnosis followed by treatment are keys to better outcomes of mucormycosis in patients with severe COVID-19.
Core Tip: We document a case of disseminated mucormycosis post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. A 58-year-old man underwent a right hemicolectomy during COVID-19 pneumonia. The surgical wound developed necrosis, which was followed by multi-organ failure, leading to death. An autopsy revealed multiple thrombi with Rhizopus oryzae infection, which led to the necrosis of multiple infected organs. Our paper is a rare pathological autopsy report on COVID-19-associated mucormycosis. It is important that treating physicians be aware of the increased risk of mucormycosis in patients with severe COVID-19. Early suspicion and diagnosis followed by treatment are keys to better outcomes.