Punjab Government issues treatment & diagnosis guidelines for Mucormycosis

Punjab Government today issued the treatment and diagnosis guidelines for Mucormycosis.

Disclosing this here today, the Health Minister Mr. Balbir Singh Sidhu said that

State Government has already declared Mucormycosis, popularly known as black fungus as a notified disease. He said that black fungus, is a serious fungal infection which can severely affect the nose, sinus, eyes and in some cases the brain of an individual. On the advice of expert group for diagnosis and management of Mucormycosis, Govt of Punjab has recommended the diagnosis, treatment and management of Mucormycosis.

Mr. Sidhu said that recommendation for constituting “Mucormycosis Audit Committee” in Govt Medical Colleges and Civil Surgeons offices are passed and these committee will be responsible for collection of data of confirmed cases of Mucormycosis from govt and private hospitals.

He said that this committee will also register outcome of each case on S3 portal. Treatment drugs will be issued to Govt Medical College and CS offices so the same could be issued to all Govt and Private hospitals. He said that prioritization of drugs shall be done by the treating institution/ treating doctor as per the clinical condition of the patient.

Health Minister further said that if there is no immediate risk to life, a patient of Mucormycosis should not be taken for surgery if He/She is COVID positive/Hypoxic.

He said that there are no recommendations for treating patient with steroids if there is no sign of hypoxia.  MRI scan should be made optional for Hypoxic patient as he/she cannot be taken for MRI (Cylinders are ferromagnetic). 

Mr. Sidhu added that treatment audit committee from treating facilities should include members from Departments of Medicine, Anaesthesia and ENT as decided by Principal/MS/Management of the concerned treating institution.

Districts should conduct IEC activities for sensitization of the masses that Mucormycosis does not spread through human to human, he said.