Original Research Article Study on a deadly uninvited guest during the historical second wave at a tertiary health care center in south India Sunil Kumar Katari1, Suneetha Sunkari2, Bhargavi3*, T Khadeeja4, C Aparna5, G Baleswari6 1Assistant Professor, 2Assistant Professor, 3,4PG, 5Professor, 6Professor and HOD, Department of Pathology, Kurnool Medical College, Kurnool 518002. Andhra Pradesh, INDIA. Email:
[email protected] Abstract Background: Mucormycotina are widely distributed fungal elements in nature and cause no harm to immunocompetent individuals, but they infect immunosuppressed people causing mucormycosis. Mucormycosis in Severe coronavirus disease (COVID-19) during the first wave escaped unnoticed in many healthcare centers while only a few cases were reported during 2020 in India. As mucormycosis is an invasive fungal infection, accurate identification and diagnosis of Mucormycotina on histopathological examination assists the clinician in further treatment. Aim of the study: To know the incidence of Mucormycosis in the histological specimens received. To know the Age, Sex and Site wise distribution of the same. To compare the present study with other global studies regarding incidence, age and gender wise distribution and suspect: histopatholocally confirmed ratio. Material and Methods: This is a prospective study done in the department of Pathology, Kurnool Medical College, Kurnool, on 162 biopsy specimens sent from patients of Severe coronavirus disease (COVID-19) suspected with mucormycosis of the Rhino-orbito-cerebral regions who underwent surgery in Government General Hospital, Kurnool, from 25st April 2021 to 20th June 2021 (56 days). The biopsy specimens were processed and studied. Results: Within a span of 56 days, out of 162 specimens received, 116 were histopathologically confirmed positive for mucormycosis.