Loss of an eye to mucormycosis following corticosteroid therapy for COVID-19

Authors

  • Mariana Gonçalves Rodrigues Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina, Disciplina de Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço, São Paulo, SP, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2619-0255
  • William Kazunori Sekiguchi Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Moléstias Infecciosas, São Paulo, SP, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1858-692X
  • Sérgio Gonçalves Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina, Disciplina de Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço, São Paulo, SP, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6742-608X
  • Yuri Reis Casal Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Patologia, São Paulo, SP, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0488-5307
  • Fernando Pereira Frassetto Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Patologia, São Paulo, SP, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5778-1299
  • Vinicius Trindade Gomes da Silva Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Neurocirurgia, São Paulo, SP, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3133-4164
  • Marcello Mihailenko Chaves Magri Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Moléstias Infecciosas, São Paulo, SP, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7996-8265

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4322/acr.2021.345

Keywords:

Immunocompetence, SARS-CoV-2, Orbit

Abstract

Mucormycosis is a rare, sometimes severe fungal infection that has emerged as a possible complication of COVID-19. We report a case of a non-diabetic, apparently immunocompetent patient diagnosed with rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis shortly after COVID-19 treatment with dexamethasone. The patient received optimized systemic antifungal therapy and extensive surgical treatment. So far, four months after the last hospital discharge, the patient has been in good general condition. This case is a dramatic reminder that beneficial corticosteroid therapy in general inevitably carries a risk of opportunistic infection, and corticosteroid therapy for COVID-19 risks orbital-rhinocerebral mucormycosis that clinicians should watch for with vigilance.

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References

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Published

2022-06-23

Issue

Vol. 12 (2022)

Section

Clinical Case Report

License

Copyright (c) 2022 Autopsy and Case Reports

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How to Cite

Mariana Gonçalves Rodrigues, William Kazunori Sekiguchi, Sérgio Gonçalves, Yuri Reis Casal, Fernando Pereira Frassetto, Vinicius Trindade Gomes da Silva, & Marcello Mihailenko Chaves Magri. (2022). Loss of an eye to mucormycosis following corticosteroid therapy for COVID-19. Autopsy and Case Reports, 12, e2021345. https://doi.org/10.4322/acr.2021.345