Is Serum Ferritin an Early Marker for COVID-19-Associated Mucormycosis?

Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a hyperinflammatory disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, which makes critically ill patients susceptible to invasive fungal infections. Invasive fungal infections such as mucormycosis are associated with high morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to determine the serum ferritin levels in COVID-19-associated mucormycosis (CAM) patients and isolate and identify the fungi causing secondary fungal infections in patients with suspected CAM. Methodology This cross-sectional study was conducted from June to September 2021 among CAM patients admitted to Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital. After obtaining approval from the institutional ethics committee and valid consent, data regarding demographic details, past medical history, and serum ferritin levels, along with other blood investigations, were carefully collected from patients presenting with clinical features of mucormycosis and a history of COVID-19. Samples were examined under a bright field microscope using wet mounts of samples in KOH, cultured on Sabouraud's dextrose agar, and examined under a microscope after staining with lactophenol cotton blue for the isolation and correct identification of fungi. Statistical analysis was done using Microsoft Excel (Microsoft Corp., Seattle, WA, USA) and SPSS version 26.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). A p-value less than