A new harrowing statistic from ICMR indicates that over 56% of COVID-19 patients who developed secondary infection like black fungus have died. When a person is infected with a disease, they become more vulnerable to additional infections and develop secondary infections. In the present scenario, some patients who have been getting treatment for COVID-19 are reporting to have developed fungal infections like black fungus, white fungus and yellow fungus.
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A new study from ICMR is showing that due to overuse of antibiotics and attack of fungal infections on immunocompromised individuals, deaths which could have been avoided, took place. Although one should note that the sample size for the study was relatively smaller which was about 4% of the total 17,000 patients had developed bacterial or fungal infections.
However, ICMR scientist and the study’s leader Kamini Walia highlighted that the overall hospitalization numbers across the nation shows that lakhs of people must have stayed at hospital for a longer than intended interval, requiring a higher antibiotic dose and must have acquired infections that typically only develop after 10 days.
Also Read: Black Fungus Declared Epidemic in 4 States; Centre issues guidelines on early detection & prevention
56% death rate in 3.6% patients, 10.6 overall COVID-19 mortality rate
The data states that out of the 17,534 patients that were part of the study, 3.6% developed a bacterial or fungal infection. Out of these 3.6% patients, 56.7% patients died (a total of 631 patients). The study also stated that the patients needed more potent antibodies as they had developed superbugs which were immune to the standard antibiotics.
According to the study, more than half of the COVID-19 patients who had developed bacterial infection (52.36%) were administered ‘watch category’ antibiotics that are prescribed by the WHO as antibiotics that can be used for specific types of infections. However, 5% of these patients had to be administered the reserve or the “last resort” category antibiotics.
The study also stated that the most common bacterial infections that patients developed were drug-resistant variants of the Klebsiella pneumonia, acinetobacter baumannii and pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Over usage of antibiotics to have contributed surge in infections
According to a Times of India report, leading health care experts, who were not part of the study, are of the believe that over usage of antibiotics could have contributed to the increase in infections and fatalities. Dr. Khusrav Bajan from the Hinduja Hospital from Mumbai said-
“The body has an inherent flora, that is good bacteria that plays a protective role. But when antibiotics are given without a reason, these good bacteria too get wiped out, allowing opportunistic infections to attack.”
Also Read: After Black Fungus, White Fungus cases reported; Experts claim White Fungus more dangerous
Patients who are admitted in hospitals for long are administered antibiotics
Dr. Kamini Walia said that the patients who have to be admitted to hospital for a longer duration are given off some antibiotics to keep off certain hospital acquired fungal infections.
“The longer a patient stays in hospital, higher is the chance of him/her requiring ICU or ventilator. Antibiotics are needed for such a Covid patient, but what is worrying is excess antibiotics that could cause ‘pressure’ on the pathogens who will end up becoming drug-resistant,”
-she said.
Dr. Walia’s study also found that during the first wave of COVID-19, 10% of the patients were given anti-fungal medicines even though they showed no cause to have needed it. Speaking to Times of India, she said that thanks to the added fear of Black Fungus, one can be sure that there are a lot of anti-fungal medications being misused. She was also of the opinion that prolonged antibiotic use at home by COVID-19 patients could have long term consequences.
Also Read: Yellow Fungus in India: After black and white fungus, this dangerous fungus found in UP
Health Ministry working with states to curb the new fungal infections
Just one week ago, the Health Ministry directed the states to declare black fungus infections epidemic in their states according to their discretion. The Ministry also asked the states to prepare infection prevention strategies in hospitals and implement it in accordance with the National Guidelines for Infection and Control in Healthcare Facilities. States like Delhi, Bihar, Gujarat and Maharashtra have already declared Black Fungus as an epidemic.
