Black Fungus Infection: Symptoms, Treatment, And Causes

Key Points About Black Fungus

• Black fungus is a severe invasive fungal infection caused by RHIZOPUS  typically seen in immunocompromised individuals.

• There has been an increased incidence of this fungal infection in patients suffering from COVID-19 disease.

• Several factors including underlying diabetes, immunosuppressives, host factors, and pancreatic endocrine dysfunction by COVID 19 have been proposed as the putative causative mechanisms for Mucormycosis.

• However, the judicious use of steroids and/or other immunosuppressants should not be withheld in patients with severe COVID-19, as they can be life-saving.

• Treatment is long-term and involves a combination of drugs and surgical measures.

It is advised to visit the best ENT hospital in Bangalore if the infection has spread to the ear, nose, and throat.

What is Black Fungus/Mucormycosis?

Mucormycosis, popularly termed “Black fungus” by the media and public, is a disease caused by ubiquitously occurring mould found in decaying vegetation and soil. It leads to necrotic black tissue at the infected sites, hence the name. In the Indian setting, it was more commonly seen in uncontrolled diabetics or people on extensive immunosuppression. We have seen a surge in cases of Mucormycosis during this COVID pandemic.  We have also published such an initial series of patients (http://dx.doi.org/10.18203/issn.2454-5929.ijohns20211583). There have been several reasons proposed for this sudden surge in the deadly fungus. 

These include:

• Uncontrolled diabetes

• Prolonged use of steroids and other immunosuppressives

• Inborn errors of immunity

COVID-19 could affect the pancreas which in turn can disturb the glycemic balance leading to prolonged periods of increased sugar levels in these patients. Thus, Mucormycosis can also be seen among COVID-affected patients who were not treated with steroids or other immune-suppressing drugs.

Mucormycosis is caused by Rhizopus Oryzae, the most common fungus responsible for the disease which causes about 70% of the cases. Despite advanced treatment and aggressive therapy, the mortality rate of black fungus disease is over 50%. Further, the mortality rate in disseminated disease or with persistent neutropenia is even higher. The condition requires urgent and aggressive medical intervention; otherwise, it may result in debilitating or fatal consequences.

Who is Affected?

People with the following conditions/procedures are at increased risk for developing black fungus disease:

• Compromised immunity

• Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus in ketoacidosis

• Organ or bone marrow transplantation

• Malignant hematologic disorders

• Other forms of metabolic acidosis

• HIV/AIDS

• Surgery

• Treatment with corticosteroids

• Trauma and burns

• Neutropenia

• Deferoxamine therapy in patients receiving hemodialysis

How Can They Get It?

• The cause of black fungus is due to exposure to mucormycetes mould. The fungus is present in the soil, rotting wood, a pile of compost, and leaves. 

• You may contract black fungus infection through the skin. If you have any cuts or scratches on the skin and come in contact with the fungus, you may get black fungus disease.  a dermatologist in Bangalore if the skin is affected by black fungus.

• Another way of developing this condition is through pulmonary exposure via inhaling the mould spores. Through inhalation, you may have an infection in your lungs and sinuses that may progress to the brain, eyes, and face. 

• However, not all people exposed to these moulds develop this disease. People with low immunity are at high risk for developing black fungus disease.

Does it Spread Through The Air?

Black fungus is not a contagious disease and does not spread from animals to humans. The fungal spores are present in the environment, including air. In most cases, when the person inhales these spores, they are attacked and destroyed by the immune system. However, in immunocompromised patients, the moulds survive and cause infection.

What are the Black Fungus Infection Symptoms? 

Some of the black fungal symptoms are:

• Sinus and respiratory:  Sinus, oral cavity and nasal involvement with extension to the eye is the commonest type of presentation.

• Skin Infections: Due to cuts, scratches or burnt skin, there is an exposure of the inner tissue to the black fungus. It may result in symptoms, such as ulcers, redness, swelling, tenderness, blisters, and blackened skin tissue.

• Brain Infection: Disseminated black fungus infection in the brain may result in coma or altered mental status.

• Ocular infection: Infection of black fungus in the eyes may result in eye pain, redness, swelling, blurred vision, and blindness. In some cases, there is a need to remove the eyes to prevent the progression of infection.

• Gastrointestinal Infection: Black fungus infection in the gastrointestinal tract may result in Nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, and gastrointestinal bleeding.

How the Doctor Diagnoses Black Fungus Disease?

There are various methods to diagnose black fungal disease. Some of them are:

• Clinical diagnosis: Headache is the most common presenting feature. Tissue necrosis is the evident clinical sign and looking out for eschar (black scab) in the oral or nasal cavity helps in diagnosing the same. Redness and protrusion of the eye with swelling along with the loss of vision, severe facial pain and focal numbness should raise suspicion of the disease

• Imaging Techniques: CT Scan of paranasal sinuses and brain helps in picking up the rhino-orbital disease. CT lungs can help in looking for pulmonary nodules and effusion helps in diagnosing pulmonary disease.

• Histopathological and microbiological examination: Identifying the fungus on the microscopic examination of the tissue and looking for uptake of special attains to identify the fungus is the most important step in diagnoses

• Molecular assays: Molecular assays, such as restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses (RFLP), conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR), melt curve analysis of PCR products, and DNA sequencing of defined gene regions, help in determining the presence of Mucorales (pathogen responsible for black fungus disease). These tests are not commonly carried out as usually, microscopic examination suffices 

What Are The Treatment Options?

Management of black fungus disease requires a comprehensive approach. It includes managing the underlying predisposing factors, removing the necrotic tissues, initiating antifungal treatment, and adjunctive therapy. The following are the methods to manage black fungus disease:

• Antifungal medications: The doctor may prescribe various antifungal medications. Some of them are liposomal amphotericin B, isavuconazole, and posaconazole. 

• Surgical debridement: Several infection specialists believe that surgical debridement of the infected part is required to save the patient's life. It helps in preventing the progression of the disease. After the successful outcome of treatment, the patient may undergo plastic surgery.

Problems

This disease usually has prolonged treatment duration and the drugs used are toxic, expensive and require a long-term hospital stay. Apart from this, procurement of these lifesaving drugs has become problematic due to a sudden spike in demand. 

It can lead to severe comorbidities such as vision loss, focal deficits and even death at times particularly when the disease is not adequately treated at the early stages. 

How to Prevent Mucormycosis Infection? 

Having a high index of suspicion helps!!

If diagnosed early it can be treated better with improved outcomes.

Taking care of diabetes and having well-controlled sugars are the most important factors to prevent the invasion. Staying in touch with your endocrinologist and the ID physician post-COVID is also critical.

Following hygienic measures and frequent hand washing while minimizing the exposure of the fungal spores to the mucosal surface is also important.

You must take good care of yourself if you have compromised immunity. You should bandage all your wounds and use a mask while working in the yard. One must understand that steroids can be a lifesaving drug while managing COVID and shouldn’t shy away from their optimal use.

Consult an infectious disease expert if you want to learn more about black fungus. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is black fungus disease?

Mucormycosis is a rare fungal disease caused by a group of moulds called mucormycetes. It mainly affects people who are on medication for health problems and are immuno-compressed. Usually, people with a healthy immune system do not pose a threat to mucormycetes.

2. Can black fungus spread?

The excessive use of steroids and antibiotics and the contamination through the pipes and prongs used for the mechanical supply of oxygen to patients are the main reasons for the rise in black fungus. Mucormycosis is not contagious which means it does not spread from one person to another. The fungal infection can also occur if clean masks are not worn and the rooms are not ventilated properly. 

3. What are the symptoms of mucormycosis?

The black fungus disease symptoms depend on the part of the body it has infected.  

Symptoms of sinus and brain (rhinocerebral mucormycosis) include:

• One-sided facial swelling

• Headache

• Nasal or sinus congestion

• Black lesions on the nasal bridge 

• Fever

Symptoms of pulmonary (lung) mucormycosis include:

• Fever

• Cough

• Chest pain

• Shortness of breath

Symptoms of Cutaneous (skin) mucormycosis include:

• Blisters or ulcers

• Pain

• Excessive redness, or swelling around a wound

Symptoms of gastrointestinal mucormycosis include:

• Abdominal pain

• Nausea and vomiting

• Gastrointestinal bleeding

4. Where is mucormycosis found?

Mucormycetes are particularly found in soil and leaves, compost piles, and animal dung. They are more common in soil than in the air.

5. What does mucor mould look like?

Mucor is a microbial genus usually found in soil, organic decaying matter and old, damp carpets where moisture levels are high enough. They are white or greyish in colour and grow rapidly. 

6. Is there any treatment for black fungus?

First intravenous (IV) antifungal medications (amphotericin B, posaconazole, or isavuconazole) are given to the patient and then surgery is performed to cut away the infected tissue.

7. How does black fungus start?

One may catch mucormycosis when the fungus enters the skin through a cut, burn or any other type of skin problem. The black fungus sticks to a body part and travels inwards through the nose, sinus or lungs.  If the fungus goes through the sinus, it can affect the eyes and the brain which can lead to a fatal situation.

8. Why Covid patients are getting black fungus?

In Covid-19 patients, their airway mucosa and blood vessels are damaged and serum iron is increased which results in a favourable environment for the black fungus to grow. Steroids are given to covid-19 patients which increases sugar levels and long-term ventilation reduces the immunity of the patients. These all factors create a favourable environment for the fungus to grow and infect the patient.

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