First report of rhino-orbital mucormycosis caused by in a diabetic patient with COVID-19 in Iran and review of recent literature.

Background And Purpose: Invasive mucormycosis is a rare mycosis that affects most cases of uncontrolled diabetes and has a high mortality rate. Patients with COVID-19 are at high risk of developing invasive mucormycosis due to the consumption of anti-inflammatory drugs such as corticosteroids and dexamethasone. species followed by spp. and spp. are the main common etiological agents of rhino-orbital mucormycosis. Therefore, this study aimed to present a case of mucormycosis due to in a diabetic patient with COVID-19 for the first time in Iran.

Case Report: A 73-year-old diabetic female was referred to Ayatollah Rouhani Hospital in Babol, Iran, with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis, based on positive RT-PCR and computed tomography of the lungs. She has received methylprednisolone due to severe lung complications. Nasal involvement and left orbital swelling were observed 20 days after the hospitalization. By sinus endoscopic surgery, debridement was done and histopathology indicated wide hyphae (without septa). The sequenced PCR products displayed . In the antifungal susceptibility test, amphotericin B showed good activity against and the patient survived with timely treatment.

Conclusion: This is the first case report of rhino-orbital mucormycosis due to in COVID-19 patient; therefore, can be considered one of the etiological factors of rhino-orbital mucormycosis in COVID-19 cases.