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Telangana issues guidelines to prevent ‘Black Fungus’

The guidelines issued by the Director of Public Health to prevent mucormycosis in Covid-19 patients calls for controlling sugars during Covid with or without steroids

By Telangana Today

Updated On - 16 May 2021, 12:08 AM

Telangana issues guidelines to prevent ‘Black Fungus’ — File Photo

Hyderabad: Given the incidences of mucormycosis reported in Covid-19 patients from different parts of the country, the State government as urgent precautionary measure issued guidelines to prevent mucormycosis, which is commonly called as Black Fungus.

The guidelines issued by the Director of Public Health to prevent mucormycosis in Covid-19 patients calls for controlling sugars during Covid with or without steroids. It also calls out for judicious use of steroids by observing correct timing, dose and duration and the same has been suggested for antibiotics/antifungals.

Also prescribed is the use of clean, sterile water for humidifiers during the oxygen therapy. Often, mucormycosis is reported due to poor maintenance of humidifers, the health department guidelines pointed out while listing out SOPs for strict adherence.

The SOPs include: always use distilled or sterile water, never use un-boiled top water nor mineral water, fill up to about 10 mm below the maximum fill line, do not let the water level pass below the minimum fill line, water level checked twice daily and topped up as necessary, water in the humidifier should be changed daily and humidifier should be washed in mild soapy water, rinsed with clean water and dried in air before reuse.

The other SOPs include once a week – for the same patient and in between patients – all the components of the humidifier to be soaked in a mild antiseptic solution for 30 minutes, rinsed with clean water and dried in air.

The Director of Public Health directed the medical superintendents of all private hospitals to ensure strict implementation of these guidelines.