COVID-hit Bengaluru is running out of beds for black fungus treatment

The overburdening of existing medical facilitates comes against the backdrop of the shortage of Liposomal Amphotericin B - the drug which is essential in treating black fungus cases.

Moneycontrol News

May 23, 2021 / 18:45 IST

Representative image (Source: Reuters)

Bengaluru, which has emerged as one of the hotspots of the second COVID-19 wave, has also been hit by a rise in mucormycosis infections. Hospitals in the city are reportedly running out of beds to treat the rare fungal infection, also known as black fungus.

Top hospitals in the Karnataka capital, which had reserved wards for mucormycosis cases, are now saying that their beds are full, the Times of India reported on May 23. The report of beds being occupied to full capacity comes against the backdrop of the shortage of Liposomal Amphotericin B - the drug which is essential in treating black fungus cases.

Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital, which is the nodal facility for treating mucormycosis, is reportedly struggling to admit more patients. All the 35 beds reserved for black fungus cases in the hospital are occupied, the newspaper reported.

Also Read | Mucormycosis fungal infections maiming COVID-19 survivors in India: All you need to know about this 'black fungus'

The St John's Medical College, which is treating 53 mucormycosis patients, has also reportedly stopped new admissions. "We are unable to admit any more patients for black fungus treatment. We are helpless," the hospital's chief of medical services, Dr Sanjiv Lewin, was quoted as saying.

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