FUNGAL RHINOSINUSITIS IN THE CO-MORBID COVID-19 POSITIVE PATIENTS- A RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS

Objective: To determine the; Frequency of types of fungi and identify the commonest fungus implicated in fungal rhinosinusitis in covid-19 positive patients. Frequency of clinical types of fungal rhinosinusitis in covid-19 positive patients. Commonest co-morbidity and type of fungal rhinosinusitis associated with it. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at ENT Department Medical Teaching Institution, Hayatabad Medical complex, Peshawar during the period July 1, 2021 to Dec 31, 2022. Record of all the covisd-19 positive patients admitted to this department was examined. Those who have fungal rhinosinusitis were selected. The co morbidities in these patients such as diabetes, chronic renal failure and malignancies were recorded. Frequency of types of fungi, fungal rhinosinusitis and the commonest co-morbidity were determined.  Chi-square test performed and p-value determined to determine significance of observed relationship of fungal rhinosinusitis with diabetes mellitus, renal failure and malignancies. Results: A total of 86 patients, male: female ratio was 1.26:1. The ages ranged from 28-80 years with mean age of 56.13 ± 3.221 years. A total of 65(75.5%) patients were diabetic. Acute fulminant fungal rhinosinusitis was the commonest clinical type occurring in 40(46.5%) patients. Mucor was isolated from 56(65%). Chi square test and p value showed that the invasive fungal rhinosinusitis caused by mucor has significant association with diabetes in these patients (p=0.02). Conclusion: Acute fulminant fungal rhinosinusitis caused by mucor is the commonest fungal infection in the co-morbid diabetic covid-19 positive patients. As this is a life-threatening disease, timely recognition and prompt treatment is important.