Mucormycosis as SARS-CoV2 sequelae in kidney transplant recipients: a single-center experience from India.

PURPOSE: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) sequelae in the transplant population are scarcely reported. Post-COVID-19 mucormycosis is one of such sequelae, which is a dreadful and rare entity. The purpose of this report was to study the full spectrum of this dual infection in kidney transplant recipients (KTR).

METHODS

We did a comprehensive analysis of 11 mucormycosis cases in KTR who recovered from COVID-19 in IKDRC, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India during the study period from Nov 2020 to May 2021. We also looked for the risk factors for mucormycosis with a historical cohort of 157 KTR who did not develop mucormycosis.

RESULTS

The median age (interquartile range, range) of the cohort was 42 (33.5-50, 26-60) years with 54.5% diabetes. COVID-19 severity ranged from mild (n = 10) to severe cases (n = 1). The duration from COVID-19 recovery to presentation was 7 (7-7, 4-14) days. Ten cases were Rhino-orbital-cerebral-mucormycosis (ROCM) and one had pulmonary mucormycosis. Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) was performed in all cases of ROCM. The duration of antifungal therapy was 28 (24-30, 21-62) days. The mortality rate reported was 27%. The risk factors for post-transplant mucormycosis were diabetes (18% vs 54.5%; p-value = 0.01), lymphopenia [12 (10-18) vs 20 (12-26) %; p-value = 0.15] and a higher neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio [7 (4.6-8.3) vs 3.85 (3.3-5.8); p-value = 0.5].

CONCLUSION

The morbidity and mortality with post-COVID-19 mucormycosis are high. Post-transplant patients with diabetes are more prone to this dual infection. Preparedness and early identification is the key to improve the outcomes.