MUCORMYCOSIS AN EMERGING THREAT

MUCORMYCOSIS :

 

Mucormycosis is serious but rare fungal infection caused by Mucormycetes 

Usually affects immunocompromised individual

ABOUT FUNGUS :

Present in soil and decaying organic matter such as leaves, animal dung etc

Usually infection occurs through inhalation of fungal spores into lungs and sinuses then spread to other part

This can also enter body through burnt skin, scrape, skin injury

Fungus causing mucormycosis

   (1) Rhizopus species

   (2) mucor species

RISK FACTOR:

Diabetes

Cancer

Organ transplant individuals

Stem cell transplant individuals

Neutropenia

Long term use of corticosteroid

Hemochromatosis

Any conditions in which person is immunocompromised is a risk factor

                        

CLINICAL FEATURE:

Depends on organ involved

(1) Brain and sinus involved

       - Nausea or sinus congestion

       - Headache

       - Facial swelling (one sided) 

       -fever

       - Black lesion on nasal bridge which becomes serious

(2) Cutaneous involvement

       -Blister and ulcer which turns into black

       - pain, warm, redness, swelling around wound

(3) pulmonary involvement

       -Cough

       - chest pain

       - shortness of breathe

(4) GIT involvement

        -Abdominal pain

        -Nausea and vomiting

(5) Disseminated disease 

         Leads to coma and eventually death

Note: Mucormycosis is not contagious and do spread from person to person

DIAGNOSIS:

 1. Clinical feature

 2.laboratory tests

         - Sample is taken from lung and sinus

 3.CT Scan

        - lung

        -Sinus

PREVENTION:

 (1) protection from environment

        -wear shoes 

        - wear gloves

        -washing wound skin with soap water 

    This is best way to prevent exposure to fungal spores 

(2) Antifungal prophylaxis should be given to immunocompromised individuals

TREATMENT:

 MEDICAL TREATMENT

-Mainly we give

     1.Amphotericin-B

     2.posaconazole

     3.Isavuconazole

SURGICAL TREATMENT

Oftenly infected tissue is surgically remove

MORTALITY DUE TO MUCORMYCOSIS:

Usually this is life threatening condition Has overall mortality rate 54%

Sinus involvement -46% 

Pulmonary involvement-76% mortality

Disseminated disease-96% mortality

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