Unavailability of Liposomal Amphotericin B injections, the only treatment for black fungus infection, has delayed the number of surgeries of mucormycosis patients in the city in the last couple of weeks.

Doctors said that although the distribution of injections from the SMIMER Hospital has streamlined, the numbers being distributed is not enough to cater to all patients.

Officials at SMIMER confirmed that they receive requests for around 1,000-1,500 injections daily from private hospitals but are not able to provide even 10% of it.

Liposomal amphotericin-B is used after surgeries to prevent the fungus from spreading to other organs.

A trust-run hospital in the city has even started procuring injections from the manufacturer directly, but since the demand from across the country is high, the company’s production capacity is not able to meet the orders.

“Earlier we used to perform six to eight surgeries daily but now it is around three to four because the injections are not easily available,” said ENT surgeon Dr Bhavin Patel of a trust-run hospital near Sumul Dairy. He added that those patients waiting for the surgery are administered oral medications to prolong the procedures.

“The oral medication helps us in buying more time and during that period the patient is always under observation in case any complications arise,” he said.

Private practitioners have also observed that in the last week, new patients of fungal infection have reduced as people prefer going to New Civil Hospital or SMIMER Hospital. “The first preference for Liposomal stock that comes from the government is given to patients admitted at NCH and SMIMER Hospital, so a greater number of surgeries can be conducted there,” said an oculoplastic surgeon who conducts surgeries at one of the two government hospitals in the city.
Doctors at NCH have been conducting eight to 10 surgeries daily while at SMIMER Hospital, 35 surgeries have been conducted so far.
Medicine should be protected from light

Liposomal amphotericin B injection comes in powdered form and is administered through intravenous. Once the medicine is mixed in the intravenous bottle, the bottle and the infusion set must be protected from light so that no photosynthesis reaction takes place. Doctors cover the bottle and set either with black paper or aluminium foil.

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