EVALUATION OF PRESCRIBING PATTERN OF ANTIFUNGAL DRUGS AND CLINICAL OUTCOME IN POST-COVID SUSPECTED CASES OF MUCORMYCOSIS AT DEDICATED COVID HOSPITAL: AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Threat of COVID-19 pandemic is still not over and another threat of Post-COVID mucormycosis has started looming over the horizon. Early recognition, diagnosis, and prompt administration of appropriate antifungal treatment are important for improving outcomes for patients with mucormycosis.The present study was done to evaluate the prescribing pattern of antifungal drugs and clinical outcome in Post-covid suspected cases of Mucormycosis at Dedicated COVID hospital.MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present observational study was done after obtaining the Ethics committee approval from Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC), Government Medical College, Jalgaon.We collected the data of previous treatment records, demographics, comorbidities, laboratory investigations and clinical outcome from the case files of patients admitted with diagnosis of clinically suspected mucormycosis with history of COVID19 infection. RESULTS: Out of the total 112 patient records, majority belonged to age group 51-60 years comprising of 37 patients (33%).In the present study,Amphotericin B was most commonly prescribed antifungal drug followed by posaconazole, fluconazole and itraconazole.Amongst Amphotericin B, lipid emulsion was most commonly prescribed in 82 patients (73.2%), followed by liposomal formulation in 58 patients (51.8%). CONCLUSION: The present study aims to provide data on prescribing trends of antifungal drugs in post-COVID clinically suspected cases of mucormycosis,which is lacking in published Indian literature