Title : Covid-19 associated fungal infections due to the disturbance in infection control measures
Abstract:
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic is still difficult to be controlled by the emergence of new variants which are considered a great challenge worldwide. Disturbance in infection control guidelines implementation, use of steroids, strong antibiotics, hospital crowdedness and repeated use of oxygen masks during the management of critically ill COVID-19 patients lead to the increase in the rate of opportunistic infections. So, patients need to fight both the virus with its different variants and opportunistic pathogens including bacteria and fungi especially patients with diabetes mellitus, malignancy, or those who undergo hemodialysis and receiving deferoxamine. During the pandemics, the emergence of many cases of Mucormycosis fungal infection was observed in many different countries. Delayed and difficult diagnosis, the need for surgical debridement of necrotic tissues, controlling the progression of the disease, difficulty in intubation and the management of renal impairment that results from prolonged antifungal therapy are the main challenges regarding Mucormycosis. We will discuss risk factors that increase the chance of the infection by opportunistic pathogens especially fungal pathogens, recent challenges, and control measures.
What will audience learn from your presentation?
- Overview on COVID-19 pandemic
- Risk factors increasing the chance of developing secondary bacterial and fungal infections
- Mucormycosis associated with COVID-19 infection.
- ICU unit’s environment and the implemented infection control measures as the first line of protection against infection.
