Aspergillosis and Mucormycosis in COVID-19 Patients; a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

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Abstract

Fungal infections have increased in number since the onset of this lethal pandemic. The aim of this study is to assess risk factors and case fatality in COVID-19 cases with aspergillosis or mucormycosis. Systematic review and meta-analysis was done according to PRISMA guidelines. Data bases used were Google scholar, Pakmedinet, PUBMED and MEDLINE. 21 case reports and case series of mucormycosis in COVID-19 patients were identified and mean age was 56.3 years (36 males and 12 females). The most common comorbidity was diabetes and site was Rhino orbital mucormycosis. Case fatality of 48 combined cases was calculated to be 52%. 19 articles of aspergillosis were included. Diabetes was the most common comorbidity in cases. The number of male cases were more than females. Incidence of aspergillosis in critically sick COVID-19 patients was calculated to be 9.3%. Case fatality was calculated to be 51.2%. Screening can be a beneficial tool for decreasing the morbidity and mortality.

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  1. SciScore for 10.1101/2021.08.01.21261458: (What is this?)

    Please note, not all rigor criteria are appropriate for all manuscripts.

    Table 1: Rigor

    Ethicsnot detected.
    Sex as a biological variablenot detected.
    Randomizationnot detected.
    Blindingnot detected.
    Power Analysisnot detected.

    Table 2: Resources

    Software and Algorithms
    SentencesResources
    Data bases used were Google scholar, Pakmedinet, PUBMED and MEDLINE.
    Google scholar
    suggested: (Google Scholar, RRID:SCR_008878)
    MEDLINE
    suggested: (MEDLINE, RRID:SCR_002185)
    Data of outcome variables was entered in Microsoft Excel.
    Microsoft Excel
    suggested: (Microsoft Excel, RRID:SCR_016137)

    Results from OddPub: We did not detect open data. We also did not detect open code. Researchers are encouraged to share open data when possible (see Nature blog).


    Results from LimitationRecognizer: An explicit section about the limitations of the techniques employed in this study was not found. We encourage authors to address study limitations.

    Results from TrialIdentifier: No clinical trial numbers were referenced.


    Results from Barzooka: We did not find any issues relating to the usage of bar graphs.


    Results from JetFighter: We did not find any issues relating to colormaps.


    Results from rtransparent:
    • Thank you for including a conflict of interest statement. Authors are encouraged to include this statement when submitting to a journal.
    • Thank you for including a funding statement. Authors are encouraged to include this statement when submitting to a journal.
    • No protocol registration statement was detected.

    Results from scite Reference Check: We found no unreliable references.


    About SciScore

    SciScore is an automated tool that is designed to assist expert reviewers by finding and presenting formulaic information scattered throughout a paper in a standard, easy to digest format. SciScore checks for the presence and correctness of RRIDs (research resource identifiers), and for rigor criteria such as sex and investigator blinding. For details on the theoretical underpinning of rigor criteria and the tools shown here, including references cited, please follow this link.