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. 2022 Dec 12;13(2):10.24926/iip.v13i2.4480.
doi: 10.24926/iip.v13i2.4480. eCollection 2022.

Antifungal Drugs Shortage in India amidst Looming Increase in Invasive Fungal Infections among COVID-19 Patients: An Impending Crisis

Behram Khan Ghazi  1 , Usman Zahid  1 , Muhammad Abdullah Usman  2 , Zohra Kazmi  3 , Reem Hunain  4 , Mehr Muhammad Adeel Riaz  5 , Osman Kamal Osman Elmahi  6 , Mohammad Yasir Essar  7 , Mohammad Mehedi Hasan  8
Affiliations

Antifungal Drugs Shortage in India amidst Looming Increase in Invasive Fungal Infections among COVID-19 Patients: An Impending Crisis

Behram Khan Ghazi et al. Innov Pharm. .

Abstract

The widespread prevalence of fungal infections in the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic could be owed to ubiquitous and injudicious use of steroids and immunosuppressive nature of the virus. However, these fungal infections also meant increased use of antifungal drugs, hence endangering their supply. Amphotericin B is the first line drug for mucormycosis which was declared as an epidemic in India during the second wave. With the increasing demand of the drug, came challenges to manufacture and supply large quantities of the drug and exploitation by creating a black market and spread of false information and imprudent usage. It is of utmost importance to be prepared with adequate supply all over the nation and implementing safety regulations in manufacturing and supply of large quantities of drugs during the demanding times and make them accessible at a reasonable rate.

Keywords: Antifungal drugs; Government policy; India; mucormycosis; shortage.

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