Black Fungus: What Causes It, How To Prevent it, AIIMS Chief Explains

Mucormycosis, dubbed "black fungus" is usually most aggressive in patients whose immune systems are weakened by other infections.

Diabetics suffering from COVID-19 who are being given steroids have a high chance of being affected by mucormycosis or "black fungus", All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Director Randeep Guleria said on Saturday, as hospitals report a rise in the rare but potentially fatal infection. "Mucormycosis spores are found in soil, air and even in food. But they are of low virulence and usually do not causes infection. There were very few cases of this infection before Covid. Now a large number of cases are being reported due to Covid," he said at a news briefing. Flagging "a misuse of steroids" as a major cause behind the cases, Dr Guleria urged hospitals to follow protocols of infection control practices since secondary infections - fungal and bacterial - can be increasingly seen in COVID-19 cases, causing more deaths. "Misuse of steroids is a major cause behind this infection. Chances of fungal infection increase in the patients who are diabetic, Covid positive and those who are taking steroids. To prevent it, we should stop the misuse of steroids," Dr Guleria said.