Uncontrolled diabetes and the use of high-dose steroids, which suppress immunity, have been identified as the primary factors behind black fungus.
Amid rising cases of black fungus in COVID-19 positive patients across the country, doctors and scientists are now trying to find out the potential cause behind the spread of the fungal infection. Cases of black fungus or mucormycosis are being reported among those recovering or recovered from COVID-19.
Uncontrolled diabetes and the use of high-dose steroids, which suppress immunity, have been identified as the primary factors behind the cases of black fungus or mucormycosis.
There has been another debate on what could be the other possible factors giving rise to an increased number of black fungus cases in the country. It is now debated whether unhygienic delivery of oxygen to patients could be a potential cause behind such cases.
According to some doctors in Mumbai, one of the reasons for the outbreak of black fungus is also the use of industrial oxygen during treatment. Doctors say that there is a big difference in the making of industrial and medical oxygen.
We all have seen how the tragedy unfolded during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic when patients were suffering due to a lack of medical oxygen. Hospitals and medical facilities had to resort to industrial oxygen to meet the daily requirements for the life-saving gas.
Doctors in Mumbai now say that there is a difference in the way medical oxygen and industrial oxygen are produced. And therefore industrial oxygen is also among the many reasons for the sudden increase in the number of black fungus or mucormycosis cases.
Difference between medical and industrial oxygen
During production, medical oxygen is filtered at many levels. Many measures are taken to keep all the fungus away. There is a lack of such steps in the production of industrial oxygen.
Contaminated water used in humidifiers, unsterilised equipment, and non-medical grade oxygen cylinders could also play a possible role.
Industrial oxygen cylinders, which are not medical grade and prone to leaks have been transported in trucks and vans. Thus, the hygiene of cylinders could have been compromised.
The water used in humidifier bottles through which oxygen is given needs to be sterile and clean. If not, the risk of contamination increases with the possibility of breathing in fungal spores.
Experts also say that cannulas and oxygen masks for every COVID-19 patient should be discarded and new ones should be used for the next patient.
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