الفهرس 
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Abstract
COVID-19 is a new pandemic which is caused by the coronavirus strain SARS-CoV-2 with unclear pathophysiology. The main route of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to a healthy person is respiratory droplets. COVID-19 patients with history of corticosteroid therapy, ventilation, intensive care unit stay, and major comorbidities have high risk to develop severe opportunistic infections like oropharyngeal candidiasis, pulmonary aspergillosis, bloodstream candida infections and rhino‑orbital cerebral mucormycosis (ROCM).
ROCM is a serious opportunistic fungal infection. The fungus can spread directly to the orbital cavity and to the brain after invading the mucosa of the paranasal sinuses. This type of infection which is rapidly progressive and fatal with a high mortality rate, affects specific type of patients. Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus with a history of diabetic ketoacidosis, history of steroids and immunosuppressive drugs intake, neutropenia, organ transplantation, blood transfusion and malignancies are major predisposing factors.
Diagnosing of the ROCM requires histo¬pathological evidence of fungal invasion of the tissues and the extent of involvement can be evaluated with CT or MRI scans. ROCM management must target reversing underlying immunocompromised states, administering systemic antifungals, and performing urgent surgical debridement.
By identifying and managing a ROCM cluster, we contribute an overview of the epidemiology and clinical course of a devastating fungal infection in the COVID-19 pandemic era.
The aim of this study was to find the incidence and risk factors of orbital mucormycosis among covid and post covid patients in one year at Ain Shams University Hospitals.
This descriptive retrospective cohort study was conducted at the Ophthalmology Outpatient Clinic, Ophthalmology Department, Ain Shams University hospitals in the period from 1 January 2021 until 31 December 2021 included 92 patients. The study results showed that COVID-19 was the underlying condition in 93.5% of them contributing by its pathophysiology and management protocols.
Our study results revealed ROCM cases in 2021 at ASUH were much higher than the numbers presenting during equivalent intervals before COVID-19 pandemic, and the rate of these cases varied prospectively with number of new COVID-19 cases in Egypt within the same period. COVID-19, diabetes mellitus, frequent oxygen support and corticosteroid for COVID-19 management use were the dominant predisposing factors for ROCM. Older age >50 years, admission to an ICU, haematological malignancy and brain involvement were independently associated with a higher risk for death.