PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “MUCORMYCOSIS”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Mucormycosis during deferoxamine therapy is a siderophore-mediated infection. In vitro and in vivo animal studies.

This study investigates the pathophysiology of mucormycosis caused by Rhizopus, which has been reported in 46 dialysis patients, while treated with deferoxamine (DFO). This drug aggravates mucormycosis, which we experimentally induced in guinea pigs and which lead to a shortened animal survival (P < or = 0.01). The drug's effect on Rhizopus is not mediated through the polymorphonuclear cells. Fe.DFO, the iron chelate of DFO, abolishes the fungistatic effect of serum on Rhizopus and increases the in vitro growth of the fungus (P < or = 0.0001). This effect is present at Fe.DFO concentrations > or = 0.01 microM, at which fungal uptake of radioiron from 55Fe.DFO is observed. A 1,000-fold higher concentration of iron citrate is required to achieve a similar rate of radioiron uptake and of in vitro growth stimulation as observed with Fe.DFO. These in vitro effects of Fe.DFO (1 microM) in serum on radioiron uptake and on growth stimulation are more striking for Rhizopus than for Aspergillus fumigatus and are practically absent for Candida albicans. For these three fungal species, the rates of radioiron uptake from 55Fe.DFO and of growth stimulation in the presence of Fe.DFO in serum are directly related (r = 0.886). These results underscore the major role of Fe.DFO in the pathogenesis of DFO-related mucormycosis. Pharmacokinetic changes in uremia lead to a prolonged accumulation of Fe.DFO after DFO administration, which helps explain the increased sensitivity of dialysis patients to DFO-related mucormycosis.

Animals↗

Isolated renal mucormycosis: an unusual cause of acute renal infarction in a boy with aplastic anaemia.

Mucormycosis is an opportunistic fungal infection occurring most often in immunocompromised patients. The most common clinical presentation of infection with the fungus is rhinocerebral, followed by primary pulmonary, disseminated, gastrointestinal and cutaneous manifestations. Renal involvement in disseminated mucormycosis is well described, however, there are only few case reports describing the isolated renal mucormycosis in literature. We present an unusual case of renal mucormycosis in a patient of aplastic anaemia who presented with right flank pain and, on imaging, was found to have renal infarction and thrombosis of renal vessels. Histopathology revealed fungal hyphae infiltrating the entire kidney, renal vessels and perinephric space.

Acute Disease↗

Twenty-five years' experience treating cerebro-rhino-orbital mucormycosis.

Mucormycosis is an acute fungal disease with high mortality exhibiting craniofacial, pulmonary, cutaneous, gastrointestinal and disseminated forms. Cerebro-rhino-orbital (CRO) mucormycosis is the type that most frequently involves the structures of the head and neck. While usually non-pathogenic, these saprophytic organisms can be particularly lethal in chronically debilitated patients. Between the years 1957 and 1982, 18 cases of CRO mucormycosis were seen at the Medical College of Virginia Hospital and the McGuire VA Medical Center. Four illustrative cases of CRO mucormycosis are presented to emphasize: the importance of clinical awareness of the disease, the necessity of tissue biopsy for diagnosis, the need of appropriate management of any underlying disorder, administration of amphotericin-B, and the performance of adequate surgery.

Adult↗

Mucormycosis of the trachea: an unusual cause of acute upper airway obstruction.

Mucormycosis (phycomycosis) has been reported to involve most organ systems in man. We report a young insulin-dependent diabetic who presented with acute upper airway obstruction because of isolated mucormycosis of the trachea. A combination of amphotericin B and surgical resection of the lower two thirds of the larynx and five tracheal rings with primary reanastomosis has resulted in a cure with no evidence of recurrence after nine months of follow-up. To our knowledge, this represents the first report of isolated tracheal mucormycosis and/or acute upper airway obstruction due to mucormycosis.

Adult↗

Isolated renal mucormycosis: case report and review.

The 15th reported case of isolated renal mucormycosis (infection of the kidney with fungus of the order Mucorales, in the absence of infection elsewhere in the body) is presented. The patient was a 36-year-old human immunodeficiency virus-infected man, actively using iv drugs, who suffered 6 wk of flank pain and fever before diagnosis was made by percutaneous renal biopsy. He received 4 months of amphotericin B treatment, then no therapy for 6 months before dying with no evidence of mucormycosis. Isolated renal mucormycosis should be suspected in those with an underlying immunocompromising illness or history of iv drug use who have persistent flank pain and fever, but sterile urine cultures. Computed tomographic scanning with contrast should then be performed; findings of severe inflammation or bacterial infection, despite an indolent clinical course with sterile or nondiagnostic urine and blood cultures, are suggestive of isolated renal mucormycosis, and renal biopsy under computed tomographic guidance should be performed, despite the potential risk of disseminated infection. Although our patient was treated with amphotericin B alone, nephrectomy with or without amphotericin B therapy appears to be more likely to cure infection and relieve pain and constitutional symptoms.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

Rhinocerebral mucormycosis in IDDM. Sequential magnetic resonance imaging of long-term survival with intensive therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical course and the utility of computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the successful management of an often fatal fungal infection in a 12-year-old patient with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). CASE: The patient was admitted to The University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMC) for the purpose of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) management and subsequent intensive therapy for mucormycosis according to nationally accepted standards of care. Strict diabetic control was instituted with frequent monitoring of blood glucose levels and interval assessment of HbA1c. Sequential MRI studies were obtained according to approved patient standards; the clinical and MRI course of the infection was charted. RESULTS: The patient's DKA resolved within 12 h on intravenous fluid repletion and insulin therapy. His sinusitis/rhinitis noted on admission did not respond to intravenous antibiotic therapy and progressed with obvious left orbital involvement and left cranial nerve palsies by 72 h of hospitalization. CT and MRI were invaluable aids to the early diagnosis and design of appropriate surgical and antifungal management of this patient, who survived with minimal left cranial nerve palsies. CONCLUSIONS: Our patient is among the youngest of IDDM patients reported to have survived rhinocerebral mucormycosis. His survival is attributed to early recognition of possible mucormycosis with diagnostic support of CT and MRI, surgical debridement and antifungal therapy, and intensive blood glucose control. Sequential MRI is invaluable to the design of therapy for this type of patient and shows the nearly 3-year recovery from mucormycosis.

Brain Diseases↗

Systemic mucormycosis complicating acute renal failure: case report and review of the literature.

Mucormycoses is a fungus which increasingly has been reported as a cause of opportunistic infection during the last 40 years. This infection is most commonly associated with underlying predisposing conditions, particularly diabetic ketoacidosis, hematologic and other malignancies, steroid therapy, broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy, or various acquired and hereditary immunodeficient disease states. The present report is that of a previously healthy patient with acute renal failure secondary to a postviral rhabdomyolysis syndrome, who received corticosteroids and developed unsuspected and undiagnosed systemic mucormycosis. Autopsy revealed that he died as a consequence of a massive pulmonary hemorrhage due to disseminated invasive mucormycosis, involving both the lungs and kidneys. A review of the literature reporting disseminated mucormycosis in association with renal failure is provided. Mucormycosis should be considered in immunocompromised patients with renal failure and fevers of unknown origin so that early diagnosis and prompt surgical and medical therapy may be instituted.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

Long-term survival in rhinocerebral mucormycosis. Case report.

Mucormycosis refers to a group of rapidly progressive infections caused by fungi belonging to the order Mucorales. Infection most often develops in individuals with immunological or metabolic compromise, although patients without underlying abnormalities have been affected. Specific clinical manifestations are associated with various predisposing factors. Rhinocerebral mucormycosis is the most common form and most frequently develops in individuals with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus. The extent of anatomical involvement and clinical course are unpredictable, depending on the intrinsic factors of the host. Over the past 20 years the prognosis for patients with rhinocerebral mucormycosis, once considered to be a uniformly fatal disease, has improved. Coordinated medical and surgical treatment, including rapid diagnosis, the advent of systemic antifungal agents, aggressive surgical debridement, and control of the underlying disease process, have been credited with its successful management. The range of survival rates recorded with the regimen of combined therapies is wide because the number of patients reported is limited and anatomical involvement is diverse. Survival with intracerebral abscess is rare. The authors describe the successful management of a patient who developed a bifrontal fungal abscess during treatment for rhinocerebral mucormycosis associated with ketoacidosis and diabetes mellitus. The patient remains without radiographic or clinical evidence of infection more than 2 years after treatment. The authors review the characteristic clinical, radiographic, and pathological features of previously reported infections and emphasize the importance of early detection and aggressive treatment in the management of this frequently fulminant and fatal disease.

Adult↗

Rhinocerebral mucormycosis: case report.

Rhinocerebral mucormycosis is a rare, fulminating opportunistic fungal infection caused by a fungus of the order mucorales. These fungi are ubiquitous, subsisting on decaying vegetation and diverse organic material. Although the fungi and spores of mucorales show minimal intrinsic pathogenicity towards normal persons, they can initiate aggressive and fulminating infection in the immune compromised host. Because rhinocerebral mucormycosis occurs infrequently it may pose a diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma for those who are not familiar with its clinical presentation. We present a patient with classical presentation of rhinocerebral mucormycosis involving the paranasal sinuses, the orbit and cranial base who, was treated by a combination of aggressive surgical and medical therapy and subsequently had surgical repair of the oral defect. The purpose of this presentation is to draw attention to the clinical presentation and pathogenesis of rhinocerebral mucormycosis and to emphasise the need for high index of suspicion in its diagnosis and management.

Amphotericin B↗

Identification of the asexual state of Rhizopus species on histologic tissue sections in a patient with rhinocerebral mucormycosis.

Mucormycosis is an infection caused by a group of fungi in the order Mucorales in the phylum Zygomycota. The most well-known form of this disease is rhinocerebral mucormycosis, which usually develops in diabetic or immunocompromised patients. The fungal hyphal elements are easily detected in biopsy specimens by direct or histologic examination. However, the confirmatory identification of the genus or species requires culture of the specimen. This article presents a case of rhinocerebral mucormycosis in which presumptive identification of the genus was made without microbiologic cultures and was based on the extraordinarily rare appearance of fungal sporangia and sporangiospores in histologic tissue sections. Identification of these structures allowed an early and accurate diagnosis of rhinocerebral invasive mucormycosis.

Adult↗

Palatal necrosis in an AIDS patient: a case of mucormycosis.

We report a case of rhinocerebral mucormycosis presenting in a patient with AIDS and review the literature on mucormycosis occurring in the setting of HIV disease. Mucormycosis in HIV is rare. However, it can be the presenting opportunistic infection in AIDS. Predisposing factors for Mucor infection in HIV disease include low CD4 count, neutropenia, and active intravenous drug use. Mucormycosis can present in the basal ganglia, the skin, the gastrointestinal tract, the respiratory tract, or may be disseminated. The disease may develop insidiously or may progress rapidly with a fulminant course. Therapy usually consists of surgical debridement/excision accompanied by intravenous amphotericin B.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

[Cerebral hematoma caused by mucormycosis].

INTRODUCTION: Invasion of the central nervous system by mucormycosis is rare. It is mainly seen in diabetic ketoacidosis, immunosensitive or severely debilitated patients and in cases of hematological neoplasias. We describe a case of cerebral hemorrhage with documented evidence of invasion of the cerebral vessels by mucormycosis, in a patient with a gastric adenocarcinoma. CLINICAL CASE: A 38 year old woman complained of the sudden onset of headache and disorder of vision which progressed rapidly to coma. Computerized tomography showed the presence of a parieto occipital hematoma. The patient died six hours later. She had had an operation for gastric carcinoma eight months previously. Anatomopathological study of the brain showed invasion of the arterial wall by mucormycosis. CONCLUSION: Solid tumors may lead to cerebral hemorrhage caused by mucormycosis.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Indolent intracranial mucormycosis: case report.

We present a patient with isolated intracranial mucormycosis that remained indolent for several months. The mucormycosis formed a mass in the prepontine cistern, probably spreading from the sphenoid sinus. We propose that at least some cases of what is considered isolated CNS mucormycosis develop from such unrecognized indolent infections. Mucormycosis may present as a mass in the basilar cisterns, especially in immunocompromised patients.

Adolescent↗

[Mucormycosis. Report of 3 cases].

Mucormycosis is an acute and often fatal infection caused by a fungus of the Mucorales order of the Zygomycetes class. There are various clinical types, usually associated with an underlying disorder. The rhinocerebral mucormycosis is usually seen in diabetics, especially in ketoacidosis, but may also appear in healthy people. We report three cases of mucormycosis diagnosed since april 1987 through january 2001 at the Dr. Domingo Luciani Hospital, Caracas, Venezuela. Two of them had diabetes and one was apparently healthy. The most common clinical presentation of mucormycosis was the rhinocerebral infection, seen in the two diabetic patients, both of them had cavernous sinus thrombosis one with involvement of the carotid artery. The other patient with sinus involvement had no predisposing factors. All patients were treated with amphotericin B and two of them had surgical debridement of involved tissue. We emphasize the importance of an early clinical diagnosis and treatment with surgical debridement of infected tissue combined with amphotericin B.

Adult↗

Rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis. A retrospective analysis of clinical features and treatment outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: The conventional management of rhino-orbito-cerebral (ROC) mucormycosis includes control of metabolic abnormality, administration of amphotericin B and surgery that spans simple sinus clearance, radical debridement and orbital exenteration. Recent literature includes anecdotal descriptions of successful treatment with conservative management of involved orbits. We evaluated the clinical features and outcome of treatment for the different stages of ROC mucormycosis. METHOD: In this retrospective case series, 34 case records of patients with a histopathological diagnosis of ROC mucormycosis treated between 1992 and 2000 were reviewed. Three clinical stages and three treatment groups were identified. Patients with limited sino-nasal disease (Clinical stage I) underwent sino-nasal debridement (Treatment group A). Patients with limited rhino-orbital disease (Clinical stage II) underwent either sino-nasal debridement alone (Treatment group A) or orbital exenteration in addition to sino-nasal debridement (Treatment group B). Patients with rhino-orbito-cerebral disease (Clinical stage III) did not undergo any surgical procedure (Treatment group C). Thirty-three patients received intravenous amphotericin B. Outcome for each group was measured as "Treatment success" (disease free, stable patient with metabolic abnormality under control) and "Treatment failure" (progression of disease with worsening general condition or mortality due to the disease). RESULTS: Uncontrolled diabetes in 30 (88.2%) of 34 patients was the commonest underlying disease and 16 (53.3%) of 30 diabetics had ketoacidosis. Chronic renal failure (n = 4), hepatic disease (n = 3) and idiopathic thrombocytopenia (n = 1) were the other underlying diseases. Eleven patients had stage I disease, 16 patients had stage II disease and seven patients had stage III disease. All 11 patients with stage I disease received treatment A; of 16 patients with stage II disease, 7 received treatment A and the remaining with stage III disease received treatment B; 7 patients with stage II disease received treatment C. Ten of 11 patients (91%) with stage I disease had treatment success. In patients with stage II disease, 7 of 7 (100%) with treatment A and 1 of 9 (11.1%) with treatment B had treatment success. All seven patients with stage III disease had treatment failure. CONCLUSION: Debridement of the sinuses is necessary in all cases of rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis. Diagnosis in the early stage needs a high degree of suspicion. There is a definite role for retention of orbits in patients whose metabolic derangement is rapidly controlled and orbital involvement is non-progressive.

Adolescent↗

Mucormycosis in hematologic patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical characteristics of patients affected by hematologic malignancies who developed mucormycosis and to ascertain the factors which influenced the outcome following mycotic infection. DESIGN AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study conducted over a 15-year period (1987-2001). The study included 59 patients with hematologic malignancies with a proven or probable mucormycosis admitted in 18 Hematology Divisions in tertiary care or university hospitals. RESULTS: The most frequent sites of infection were lung (64%) and orbito-sinus-facial (24%); cerebral involvement observed in 19% of cases was always associated with other sites of infection. Antifungal treatment was empirically administered in 49 patients (83%); 7 patients underwent radical surgical debridement (12%). Therapy was successful for only 18 patients (37%). Forty-seven patients died within 3 months of the diagnosis of fungal infection: the cause of death was mucormycosis in 41 patients (87%) and progression of hematologic disease in 6 patients (13%). At univariate analysis, the factors that correlated with a positive outcome from infection were the following: male sex, amphotericin B treatment, neutrophil recovery from post-chemotherapy aplasia. At multivariate analysis, the only factor that significantly correlated with recovery from infection was the liposomal amphotericin B treatment. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: Mucormycosis is a rare filamentous fungal infection that occurs most frequently in neutropenic patients with acute leukemia. It does not seem to have increased in recent years. Although a reduction of mortality has been observed recently, the mortality rate still remains high. Extensive and aggressive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are essential in order to improve the prognosis in these patients.

Adolescent↗

[Treatment of mucormycosis with adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen: five cases treated at the same institution and review of the literature].

INTRODUCTION: Mucormycosis is an invasive fungal infection that affects decompensated diabetics, immunosupressed patients and occasionally healthy individuals. Despite advances in anti-fungal therapy and surgical techniques, the morbidity and mortality remain high. Adjuvant hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) has been proposed based on pathophysiology and several favorable clinical reports. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A chart review of mucormycosis patients referred to the HBO service was performed. Also an electronic search in Medline of relevant literature was undertaken. RESULTS: Five mucormycosis patients referred for HBO had complete charts available. Four had craniofacial involvement and one had left upper extremity involvement. The predisposing diseases were leukemia (n = 3), diabetes mellitus plus sarcoidosis (n = 1), and trauma (n = 1). All patients were managed with amphotericin B, surgical debridement and HBO. Survival was 60% (3/5) three months after the diagnosis was established. The literature was scarce but favors HBO. CONCLUSION: Considering the pathophysiology of mucormycosis adjuvant HBO therapy seems reasonable. However, the clinical experience is still too limited to make HBO part of the standard of care. Prospective, randomized, controlled trials will help to define the role of HBO in this devastating infection.

Adult↗

[Aortobronchial fistula induced by pulmonary mucormycosis in acute myeloid leukemia].

A 51-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with a diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia (M1) in January 2002. During the course of induction therapy, she developed a fever and chest radiography revealed bilateral infiltrates. She was treated with broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics and fluconazole, but her condition continued to worsen. She then began receiving amphotericin B, although there was no evidence of a fungal infection from the sputum culture and serologic testing. The patient soon became afebrile and improved clinically. On the 87th hospital day, however, she had a bout of abrupt massive hemoptysis and died of exsanguination. The diagnosis of aortobronchial fistula due to pulmonary mucormycosis was obtained at autopsy. Because of the angioinvasive tendency of mucormycosis, fatal hemoptysis in some patients with pulmonary mucormycosis has been reported, but most cases involve hemoptysis resulting from mucor invasion of the pulmonary artery. To our knowledge, this case represents the fourth description of pulmonary mucormycosis with fatal bleeding from the aorta.

Aortic Diseases↗