Mucormycosis and COVID-19: A Review of the Black Fungus and Opportunistic Fungal Infections

Abstract

The novel coronavirus disease (2019) (COVID-19) arose from Wuhan, China in late 2019. It has posed a threat to global healthcare systems across developed and developing countries. The symptoms of the fungal disease may manifest similarly to those with COVID-19, including shortness of breath, cough, and fever. Recently, reports also describe the incidence of COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis, in addition to bloodstream infections including candidemia, histoplasmosis, blastomycosis, and Valley fever. Of imminent concern is mucormycosis which affects the brain, lungs, sinuses, and is life-threatening for severely immunocompromised patients such as patients with HIV/AIDS or cancer, and diabetics. In the following review, we intend to propose the correlation of mucormycosis and COVID-19 and support the associations to opportunistic fungal infections. We suggest that a multidisciplinary approach is required to ensure the reversal of any underlying or associated conditions to mucormycosis and other fungal infections.