414 black fungus cases in Chandigarh since May 10

414 black fungus cases in Chandigarh since May 10

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CHANDIGARH: Mucormycosis cases are rising despite the fall in Covid patients. There have been 414 such cases in the city till date, with around 15 being reported daily on an average. Patients have been coming from adjoining states of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh to PGI and Government Medical College and hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, since May 10.
Treating physicians and microbiologists said nonbranded anti-fungal medicines are in shortage due to unavailability of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) needed for the manufacturing which are largely imported from China.
The quantity of anti-fungal drugs keeps on going up and down. Gilead is supplying almost alternate days. Generic is facing problem of API in China. Sometimes spurious amphotericin b lipid emulsion comes in the supply. So, I am happy with amphotericin b deoxycholate,” said Prof Arunaloke Chakrabarthi, head, department of microbiology, PGI.
Doctors do not encourage the usage of amphotericin b deoxycholate much as it severely affects the functioning of kidneys. “We need to monitor the renal functions while the patient is on such a drug. But there is no point in giving incomplete doses as the infection is highly progressive,” said Prof Jagdish Chandra, microbiologist at GMCH.
Prof Jagdish whose authored many books on the fungal infection said, “With not more than 200 vials a day which is being supplied, it hardly meets the needs of more than two patients who need at least 2gm of the injectable drug. If they do not complete the course, the infection will spread to the eyes and brain leading to death.”
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