A rare post-coronavirus disease 2019 complication of maxillary mucormycotic osteomyelitis in a Southeast Asian patient

Abstract

Mucormycosis, a rapidly invasive form of fungal infection caused by Mucorales fungi, has high morbidity and mortality rates. Rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis is the most common form of mucormycosis. With the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, a causal correlation between mucormycosis and COVID-19 has been suspected, contributing to the abrupt increase in opportunistic fungal infection cases. We present a case of a Southeast Asian woman in her 60s with complaints of pus discharge in the palatal region with maxillary teeth mobility for 3 months. Physical examination revealed multiple nonvital upper teeth with severe mobility. Incisional biopsy of the maxilla and multidetector computed tomography of the head and neck confirmed the diagnosis of osteomyelitis of the maxilla secondary to mucormycosis. Surgical treatment was performed, and amphotericin B and posaconazole were administered. No operative complications or further bone destruction were observed at 8 months postoperatively.