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PLoS Pathogens Oct 2022Mucormycosis (previously called zygomycosis) is a serious but rare fungal infection caused by a group of fungi belonging to the order Mucorales. These molds exist... (Review)
Review
Mucormycosis (previously called zygomycosis) is a serious but rare fungal infection caused by a group of fungi belonging to the order Mucorales. These molds exist throughout the environment and generally do not cause serious problems in humans. Mucormycosis mainly affects individuals who are immunocompromised. The clinical manifestations of mucormycosis are wide-ranging; they include sinusitis (pansinusitis, rhino-orbital, or rhino-cerebral) as well as cutaneous, gastrointestinal, pulmonary, and disseminate infections. Many uncertainties remain regarding how to control these infections despite the recent addition of triazoles to the antifungal arsenal for treating this infection. Currently, lipid formulations of amphotericin B have become the standard treatment for mucormycosis due to their efficiency. Moreover, a growing body of data supports the need for surgical excision of infected and/or necrosed tissue whenever practical. In this mini review, the current status of treatment options for mucormycosis and recent studies of novel therapeutic options will be presented.
Topics: Amphotericin B; Antifungal Agents; Debridement; Humans; Lipids; Mucormycosis; Triazoles
PubMed: 36227854
DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010858 -
Indian Journal of Ophthalmology Dec 2021Mucormycosis, commonly known as 'Black Fungus' which was then a rare fungal infection, has suddenly come to light post the COVID-19- pandemic, more so during the second... (Review)
Review
Mucormycosis, commonly known as 'Black Fungus' which was then a rare fungal infection, has suddenly come to light post the COVID-19- pandemic, more so during the second wave in India. It thus becomes important not only for the medical fraternity but also the general population to build awareness about the same. The present review will focus on the pathophysiology, etiology, outcomes of some case studies, and current treatment methods of mucormycosis infection. Major focus of the current article is on rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis. All the studies included in the present review article was extracted from the PubMed database.
Topics: COVID-19; Humans; Mucormycosis; Nose; Orbital Diseases; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 34827032
DOI: 10.4103/ijo.IJO_1316_21 -
Medecine Sciences : M/S Mar 2013
Topics: Adolescent; Female; Humans; Mucormycosis
PubMed: 23510518
DOI: 10.1051/medsci/201329s102 -
QJM : Monthly Journal of the... Jun 2022
Topics: COVID-19; Humans; Mucormycosis; Risk Factors; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 34264346
DOI: 10.1093/qjmed/hcab191 -
European Respiratory Review : An... Dec 2022Non- filamentous fungi causing invasive mould infections have increased over the last years due to the widespread use of anti- prophylaxis and increased complexity and...
Non- filamentous fungi causing invasive mould infections have increased over the last years due to the widespread use of anti- prophylaxis and increased complexity and survival of immunosuppressed patients. In the few studies that have reported on invasive mould infection epidemiology, Mucorales are the most frequently isolated group, followed by either spp. or spp. The overall incidence is low, but related mortality is exceedingly high. Patients with haematological malignancies and haematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients comprise the classical groups at risk of infection for non- moulds due to profound immunosuppression and the vast use of anti- prophylaxis. Solid organ transplant recipients also face a high risk, especially those receiving lung transplants, due to direct exposure of the graft to mould spores with altered mechanical and immunological elimination, and intense, associated immunosuppression. Diagnosing non- moulds is challenging due to unspecific symptoms and radiological findings, lack of specific biomarkers, and low sensitivity of cultures. However, the advent of molecular techniques may prove helpful. Mucormycosis, fusariosis and scedosporiosis hold some differences regarding clinical paradigmatic presentations and preferred antifungal therapy. Surgery might be an option, especially in mucormycosis. Finally, various promising strategies to restore or enhance the host immune response are under current evaluation.
Topics: Humans; Mucormycosis; Antifungal Agents; Fungi; Biomarkers; Lung
PubMed: 36261156
DOI: 10.1183/16000617.0104-2022 -
Clinical Microbiology and Infection :... Jun 2014Zygomycosis (mucormycosis) is being increasingly recognized as causing infection in recent years. National and multinational European surveys attempting to analyse the... (Review)
Review
Zygomycosis (mucormycosis) is being increasingly recognized as causing infection in recent years. National and multinational European surveys attempting to analyse the epidemiological parameters of this potentially devastating infection are very few. Although the exact incidence could not be defined due to the different methodologies used in these studies and the absence of a denominator, there were some useful observations made regarding the clinical presentation, sites of infection and diagnostic practices. Moreover, the importance for a prompt and accurate diagnosis has been stressed. As early diagnosis can significantly affect the initiation of treatment and decrease mortality, future research should focus on the development of an epidemiological risk assessment tool and novel diagnostic methods.
Topics: Comorbidity; Europe; Humans; Incidence; Mortality; Mucorales; Mucormycosis
PubMed: 24476100
DOI: 10.1111/1469-0691.12563 -
Clinical Microbiology and Infection :... Oct 2009Iron is an essential element for cell growth and development, contributing to DNA synthesis and regulating the G(1)-phase to S-phase transition. Moreover, iron is... (Review)
Review
Iron is an essential element for cell growth and development, contributing to DNA synthesis and regulating the G(1)-phase to S-phase transition. Moreover, iron is important for the virulence of the majority of microorganisms, and the function of the genes regulating iron uptake is coupled with the manifestations of the virulence phenotype. All fungi elaborate specific uptake mechanisms to sequester iron, and most commonly produce small molecules with high affinity for iron, the siderophores. The importance of iron appears to be particularly high for Zygomycetes, which grow abundantly in iron-rich media, and all the known predisposing factors for zygomycosis have, as a common feature, the increased availability of free iron. Among the known iron chelators, deferoxamine supports the growth of Zygomycetes because it acts as xenosiderophore, delivering iron to iron-uptaking molecules of these species. Conversely, the newer iron chelators deferiprone and deferasirox do not exhibit similar activity, apparently because they share higher affinity constants for iron and, as a result, deprive the fungi of iron, inhibiting their growth. This activity has been documented in various culture systems and in many animal models of zygomycosis, and therefore suggests that these drugs might be used as adjuvant treatment for systemic zygomycosis. There are few case reports in which the newer iron chelators have been used as antifungals, and their possible benefit must be verified in a prospective randomized trial.
Topics: Antifungal Agents; Chelating Agents; Entomophthorales; Iron; Mucorales; Virulence; Zygomycosis
PubMed: 19754753
DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-0691.2009.02976.x -
International Journal of Environmental... Sep 2021Mucormycosis, a serious and rare fungal infection, has recently been reported in COVID-19 patients worldwide. This study aims to map all the emerging evidence on the... (Review)
Review
Mucormycosis, a serious and rare fungal infection, has recently been reported in COVID-19 patients worldwide. This study aims to map all the emerging evidence on the COVID-19-associated mucormycosis (CAM) with a special focus on clinical presentation, treatment modalities, and patient outcomes. An extensive literature search was performed in MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), Cochrane COVID-19 Study Register, and WHO COVID-19 database till 9 June 2021. The primary outcome was to summarize the clinical presentation, treatment modalities, and patient outcomes of CAM. Data were summarized using descriptive statistics and presented in tabular form. This evidence mapping was based on a total of 167 CAM patients with a mean age of 51 ± 14.62 years, and 56.28% of them were male. Diabetes mellitus (73.65% (n = 123)), hypertension (22.75% (n = 38)), and renal failure (10.77% (n = 18)) were the most common co-morbidities among CAM patients. The most common symptoms observed in CAM patients were facial pain, ptosis, proptosis, visual acuity, and vision loss. Survival was higher in patients who underwent both medical and surgical management (64.96%). Overall mortality among CAM patients was found to be 38.32%. In conclusion, this study found a high incidence of CAM with a high mortality rate. Optimal glycemic control and early identification of mucormycosis should be the priority to reduce the morbidity and mortality related to CAM.
Topics: Adult; Aged; COVID-19; Comorbidity; Diabetes Mellitus; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Mucormycosis; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 34639637
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph181910340 -
Clinical Infectious Diseases : An... Feb 2012Molecular phylogenetic analysis confirmed the phylum Zygomycota to be polyphyletic, and the taxa conventionally classified in Zygomycota are now distributed among the... (Review)
Review
Molecular phylogenetic analysis confirmed the phylum Zygomycota to be polyphyletic, and the taxa conventionally classified in Zygomycota are now distributed among the new phylum Glomeromycota and 4 subphyla incertae sedis (uncertain placement). Because the nomenclature of the disease zygomycosis was based on the phylum Zygomycota (Zygomycetes) in which the etiologic agents had been classified, the new classification profoundly affects the name of the disease. Zygomycosis was originally described as a convenient and inclusive name for 2 clinicopathologically different diseases, mucormycosis caused by members of Mucorales and entomophthoramycosis caused by species in the order Entomophthorales of Zygomycota. Without revision of original definition, the name "zygomycosis," however, has more often been used as a synonym only for mucormycosis. This article reviews the progress and changes in taxonomy and nomenclature of Zygomycota and the disease zygomycosis. The article also reiterates the reasons why the classic names "mucormycosis" and "entomophthoramycosis" are more appropriate than "zygomycosis."
Topics: DNA, Ribosomal; Entomophthorales; Evolution, Molecular; Genes, Fungal; Humans; Mucorales; Mucormycosis; Phylogeny; RNA, Ribosomal; Ribosome Subunits, Small; Species Specificity; Spores, Fungal; Zygomycosis
PubMed: 22247451
DOI: 10.1093/cid/cir864 -
Indian Journal of Ophthalmology Dec 2021
Topics: COVID-19; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Mucormycosis; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 34826965
DOI: 10.4103/ijo.IJO_2237_21