Sinus fungal balls caused by Syncephalastrum spp.: 2 clinical cases and literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Syncephalastrum spp. is a mucoral that rarely produces pathology. Fungal balls caused by this genus are infrequent. It requires early diagnosis and treatment to avoid associated morbidity and mortality. METHODS: We describe two clinical cases of sinus fungus balls caused by Syncephalastrum spp. and review the literature. RESULTS: Two patients were treated for sinus fungus balls. When their samples were analysed, the aetiology was determined to be Syncephalastrum spp. A case of pulmonary fungus ball due to Syncephalastrum spp. is described in the literature. All cases, including these described in the present study, had a good evolution after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Syncephalastrum spp. is a filamentous fungus that should be considered as an aetiology of sinus fungus ball.

Mucormicosis de cabeza y cuello: actualización en el diagnóstico y manejo médico-quirúrgico. Una revisión narrativa / Mucormycosis of the head and neck: update on diagnosis and medical-surgical management. A narrative review

La mucormicosis, es una patología de baja preva- lencia, rápidamente progresiva y de alta mortalidad que engloba un amplio espectro de infecciones del tipo opor- tunistas, causada por hongos de la familia Mucoraceae, Lichtheimiaceae, Thamnidiaceae, Cunninghamellaceae, Syncephalastraceae y Radiomycetaeae. Actualmente es la tercera causa de infección fúngica invasiva, posterior a la candidiasis y aspergilosos, siendo su presentación clínica más frecuente la rinocerebral de origen paranasal, cuyo síntoma característico es la rinosinusitis aguda bacteriana con proyección a los dientes antrales, de rápido avance y fatalidad. En esta revisión se emplearon resultados extraídos ma- nualmente de artículos indexados en las bases de datos MED- LINE y EBSCO a raíz de la búsqueda de los términos mu- cormycosis, oral surgery y patient care management con el objetivo de entregar una visión actualizada de la literatura, respecto al diagnóstico y tratamiento de la mucormicosis de cabeza y cuello (AU)

Mucormycosis is a low-prevalence, rapidly progres- sive and high-mortality pathology that encompasses a wide spectrum of opportunistic infections caused by fungi of the Mucoraceae, Lichtheimiaceae, Thamnidiaceae, Cunningha- mellaceae, Syncephalastraceae, and Radiomycetaeae. It is currently the third cause of invasive fungal infection, after candidiasis and aspergillosis, with its most frequent clinical presentation being rhinocerebral of paranasal origin, whose characteristic symptom is acute bacterial rhinosinusitis with projection to the antral teeth, with rapid progression and fatality. In this review, manually extracted results from articles indexed in the MEDLINE and EBSCO databases were used following the search for the terms mucormycosis, oral sur- gery and patient care management with the aim of providing an updated view of the literature regarding the diagnosis and treatment of mucormycosis of the head and neck

Mucormicosis de cabeza y cuello: Actualización en el diagnóstico y manejo médico-quirúrgico. Una revisión narrativa / Mucormycosis of the head and neck: Update on diagnosis and medical-surgical management. A narrative review

Resumen La mucormicosis, es una patología de baja prevalencia, rápidamente progresiva y de alta mortalidad que engloba un amplio espectro de infecciones del tipo oportunistas, causada por hongos de la familia Mucoraceae, Lichtheimiaceae, Thamnidiaceae, Cunninghamellaceae, Syncephalastraceae y Radiomycetaeae. Actualmente es la tercera causa de infección fúngica invasiva, posterior a la candidiasis y aspergilosos, siendo su presentación clínica más frecuente la rinocerebral de origen paranasal, cuyo síntoma característico es la rinosinusitis aguda bacteriana con proyección a los dientes antrales, de rápido avance y fatalidad. En esta revisión se emplearon resultados extraídos manualmente de artículos indexados en las bases de datos MEDLINE y EBSCO a raíz de la búsqueda de los términos mucormycosis, oral surgery y patient care management con el objetivo de entregar una visión actualizada de la literatura, respecto al diagnóstico y tratamiento de la mucormicosis de cabeza y cuello.

Abstract Mucormycosis is a low-prevalence, rapidly progressive and high-mortality pathology that encompasses a wide spectrum of opportunistic infections caused by fungi of the Mucoraceae, Lichtheimiaceae, Thamnidiaceae, Cunninghamellaceae, Syncephalastraceae, and Radiomycetaeae. It is currently the third cause of invasive fungal infection, after candidiasis and aspergillosis, with its most frequent clinical presentation being rhinocerebral of paranasal origin, whose characteristic symptom is acute bacterial rhinosinusitis with projection to the antral teeth, with rapid progression and fatality. In this review, manually extracted results from articles indexed in the MEDLINE and EBSCO databases were used following the search for the terms mucormycosis, oral surgery and patient care management with the aim of providing an updated view of the literature regarding the diagnosis and treatment of mucormycosis of the head and neck.

Mucormicosis maxilar asociado a COVID-19, tratamiento médico-quirúrgico y manejo multidisciplinario. Reporte de caso / Maxillary mucormycosis associated with COVID-19, medical-surgical treatment and multidisciplinary management. Case report

Resumen Introducción: Durante la actual pandemia de COVID-19 múltiples complicaciones se han desarrollado posterior a la enfermedad, dentro de las cuales se encuentran las infecciones fúngicas, como la mucormicosis, que puede resultar directamente de la infección por COVID-19 y/o como efecto secundario de los fármacos utilizados en su tratamiento. La mucormicosis es una infección causada por un grupo de hongos llamados mucormycetes; a nivel rinocerebral se presenta con celulitis facial, cefalea, proptosis, movilización del diente afectado y secreción nasal. Reporte de caso: Se presenta a un paciente femenino de 57 años con antecedente de neumonía grave por COVID-19 con posterior desarrollo de absceso periodontal que ameritó extracción del segundo molar superior derecho con posterior formación de fistula. Se toma TC de macizo facial donde se evidencia erosión ósea con pérdida de la morfología habitual y en pared anterior del seno maxilar derecho. Se realiza biopsia reportando tejido óseo con elementos micóticos (hifas aseptadas) morfológicamente compatibles con mucor sp. Se realizó tratamiento con anfotericina B y hemimaxilectomia derecha. Actualmente se encuentra en tratamiento con pozaconazol, y lavados quirúrgicos. Conclusión: La enfermedad de COVID-19 es una enfermedad muy común actualmente a nivel mundial, por lo que es importante identificar y llevar un seguimiento de aquellas personas con factores de riesgo para desarrollar mucormicosis; el diagnóstico y un plan de tratamiento temprano es fundamental para evitar complicaciones, las cuales pueden originar un desenlace fatal.

Abstract Introduction: During the current pandemic of COVID-19 multiple complications have developed after the disease, among which are fungal infections, such as mucormycosis, which can result directly from COVID-19 infection and/or as a side effect of the drugs used in its treatment. Mucormycosis is an infection caused by a group of fungi called mucormycetes; at the rhinocerebral level it presents with facial cellulitis, headache, proptosis, mobilization of the affected tooth and nasal secretion. Case report: the following is a 57-year-old female patient with a history of severe pneumonia due to COVID-19 with subsequent development of periodontal abscess that merited extraction of the upper right second molar with subsequent fistula formation. The patient started an infection with the presence of purulent secretion in the extraction area of the right molar. A CT scan of the facial mass was taken showing bone erosion with loss of the usual morphology in the right upper maxillary bone and anterior wall of the right maxillary sinus, as well as a biopsy of the right maxilla reporting bone tissue with mycotic elements (aseptates hyphae) morphologically compatible with mucor sp. Treatment with amphotericin B and right hemimaxillectomy was performed. She is currently being treated with pozaconazole and surgical washings. Conclusion: COVID-19 disease is currently a very common disease worldwide, so it is important to identify and follow up those people with risk factors for developing mucormycosis; early diagnosis and treatment plan is essential to avoid complications, which can lead to a fatal outcome.

Mucormicosis bronquial, un hallazgo inusual en la broncoscopia / Bronchial mucormycosis, an unusual finding on bronchoscopy

La mucormicosis es una infección causada por hongos oportunistas pertenecientes al orden de los mucorales. Desde la aparición de la pandemia por SARS-CoV-2 se han emitido alertas sobre el incremento en la presentación de esta infección. La presentación de mucormicosis traqueo-bronquial representa el 37% de la afectación pulmonar. A continuación, se desarrolla el caso clínico de una pa-ciente diabética con neumonía severa por SARS-CoV-2, con evolución desfavorable, quien es llevada a broncoscopia, encontrando pseudomembranas blanquecinas que obs-truían la luz del bronquio fuente izquierdo, confirmándose histopatológicamente la presencia de mucorales. Se realiza reporte del presente caso para reconocer la apa-rición de infecciones fúngicas en pacientes que presen-tan diabetes mal controlada e infección por SARS-CoV-2 que tienen una evolución tórpida. La presencia de seudo membranas blancas puede ser un signo de alarma para tener este tipo de infecciones dentro de las posibilidades diagnósticas

Mucormycosis is an infection caused by opportunistic fungi belonging to the order Mucorales. Since the SARS CoV 2 pandemic, warnings have been issued about the increase in the presentation of this infection. The presentation of tracheobronchial mucormycosis represents 37% of pulmonary involvement.We present the clinical case of a diabetic patient with severe pneumonia due to SARS VOC 2, with unfavorable evolution, who was taken to bronchoscopy and found whitish pseudomembranes obstructing the lumen of the left main bronchus, confirming histopathologically the presence of mucormycosis.A report of the present case is made to recognize the appearance of fungal infections in patients with poorly controlled diabetes and SARSe COV 2 infection, who have a torpid evolution. The presence of white pseudomembranes should be an alarm sign to have this type of infections within the diagnostic possibilities

Ophthalmic manifestations in patients recovered from COVID-19 in Mexico.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Although the ophthalmic manifestations appear to be associated with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), there is not enough evidence. Hence, the aim of this study was to determine the various types and frequency of ophthalmic manifestations in patients recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection in Mexico. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective, observational and descriptive study included all patients recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection attending the tertiary level hospital of Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) from June 2020 to June 2022. During the hospital admission of patients, the demographic data such age, name, gender was recorded. Ophthalmologic examination was performed under torchlight by an ophthalmologist in the Department of Ophthalmology from IMSS. Data was compiled and statistically analyzed using Fisher's exact test and Spearman correlation. RESULTS: A total of 3081 SARS-CoV-2-positive patients were recorded, of which 318 (10.32%) met the inclusion criteria. Of them, 21 (6.60%) had ophthalmic manifestations and the female-to-male ratio was 1.6:1. The mean age (±SD) was 47.95±15.27 years and the median (interquartile range) time from the diagnosis of COVID-19, as defined by positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR testing, to detection of the ophthalmic manifestation was 31 (142) days. The most common ocular manifestation was orbital mucormycosis (23.80%). Interestingly, the presence of ophthalmic manifestations was not associated with severe COVID-19 (p=0.665). CONCLUSIONS: The ophthalmic manifestations are infrequent in patients recovered from severe COVID-19. Nevertheless, further large sample studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Sinonasal mucormycosis during 2 years of COVID-19 pandemic in central Iran: incidence rate and clinical features.

INTRODUCTION: As a novel infectious disease, COVID-19 is caused by SARS-COV-2, spreading rapidly worldwide. ENT specialists have faced this challenging disease in various ways since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are currently facing an increase in cases referred due to sinonasal mucormycosis which is a rare but invasive, rapidly progressive, and life-threatening infection. We provide an overview of this disease's incidence rate and clinical features. METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 46 sinonasal mucormycosis patients who were histopathologically confirmed after sinonasal endoscopic surgery in our educational therapeutic hospital during 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic from March 20, 2020, to March 20, 2022. RESULTS: There was an increase in the incidence of mucormycosis more than twice as much as before. All patients had a history of COVID-19 and 69.6% were diabetic. The median time to symptom onset from COVID-19 detection was 3.3 weeks. A total of 60.9% received steroids while 85.7% were prescribed during COVID-19 treatment. The most common manifestation was orbital involvement (80.4%). Of the 46 study cases, unfortunately, 17 (37%) died. An exciting point in our study was the incidence of peripheral facial palsy which is associated involvement of multiple other cranial nerves (II, III, IV, V, VI) considered to be the likely occurrence of a rare phenomenon called Garcin's syndrome. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of this study, during 2 years of the COVID -19 pandemic, there was an increase in the incidence of sinonasal mucormycosis more than twice as much as before.

Infección por Aspergillus flavus y Rhizopus oryzae complex en paciente con diabetes mellitus / Infection due to Aspergillus flavus and Rhizopus oryzae complex in a patient with diabetes mellitus

La sinusitis micótica es una condición patológica que puede presentarse en pacientes con diabetes mellitus y estar asociada a una crisis hiperglucémica. Es una entidad agresiva con complicaciones locales que incluyen afectación de la órbita y el sistema nervioso central, y compromiso vascular. A pesar del tratamiento quirúrgico y antimicótico, la mortalidad es de hasta el 75 %. Se describe el caso de una paciente con diagnóstico de cetoacidosis diabética y signos de oftalmoplejía unilateral que llevaron al estudio con resonancia magnética del sistema nervioso central; se encontraron signos de sinusitis, meningitis y cerebritis. Los estudios microbiológicos iniciales fueron negativos, y los biomarcadores galactomanano sérico y el antígeno de Cryptococcus también fueron negativos. Tras el manejo quirúrgico, se llegó a la identificación de Aspergillus flavus y Rhizopus spp. en el tejido de los senos paranasales. La paciente recibió tratamiento con posaconazol y, tras dos meses de seguimiento, había presentado mejoría clínica. La infección fúngica dual y la infección por A. flavus son entidades poco frecuentes y de relevancia clínica, sin casos presentados previamente en nuestro país por lo que este corresponde a un caso de interés clínico.

Fungal sinusitis is a pathology that can occur in patients with diabetes mellitus and be associated with a hyperglycemic crisis. It is an aggressive entity with local complications that include involvement of the orbit or the central nervous system, and vascular involvement. Despite surgical and antifungal treatment, mortality raises up to 75%. We report the case of a female patient with a diagnosis of diabetic ketoacidosis and signs of unilateral ophthalmoplegia, which led to the study with magnetic resonance imaging of the central nervous system, finding signs of sinusitis, meningitis, and cerebritis. Initial microbiological studies were negative, and biomarkers such as serum galactomannan and Cryptococcus antigen were also negative. After surgical management and the identification of Aspergillus flavus and Rhizopus spp. in sinus tissue, the patient received treatment with posaconazole and after two months of follow-up she presented clinical improvement. Dual fungal infection and infection by A. flavus are uncommon and clinically relevant entities, with no cases previously reported in our country, therefore this corresponds to a case of clinical interest.

Oxigenoterapia hiperbárica como tratamiento complementario en mucormicosis asociada a COVID-19: a propósito de dos casos / Hyperbaric oxygen therapy as an adjunctive treatment for COVID-19-associated mucormycosis: a report of two cases

Reportamos los dos primeros casos, en Perú, sobre el uso del tratamiento con oxigeno hiperbárico coadyuvante (TOHC) en pacientes con mucormicosis asociado a COVID-19 (MAC). El primer caso es una mujer de 41 años, con dolor en hemicara y región palatina izquierdas con rinorrea purulenta de un mes de evolución. Al examen físico, solo evidencia fístula oroantral. El segundo caso se trata de un varón de 35 años, con disminución de agudeza visual izquierda y dolor palatino con fístula que drena secreción purulenta de cuatro meses de evolución. Ambos pacientes tienen el antecedente de diabetes, tuvieron COVID-19 moderado cuatro meses antes del ingreso, y recibieron corticoterapia por este diagnóstico. Ambos pacientes tuvieron una evaluación tomográfica que mostró compromiso del seno maxilar y tejido óseo circundante, con endoscopia nasal diagnóstica y terapéutica para desbridamiento. Se obtuvieron muestras compatibles con mucormicosis en estudio histológico. Los pacientes fueron tratados con limpieza quirúrgica y anfotericina B desoxicolato, sin embargo, presentaron evoluciones tórpidas. Por lo tanto, se adicionó la TOHC y mostraron una mejoría evidente tras cuatro semanas de tratamiento con controles subsiguientes sin presencia de mucormicosis. Resaltamos la evolución de estos pacientes con TOHC, en una enfermedad con importante morbimortalidad, que ha sido emergente durante la pandemia.

We present the first two cases reported in Peru of the use of adjuvant hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in patients with COVID-19-associated mucormycosis (CAM). The first case is a 41-year-old woman, with pain in the left side of the face and palatine region with purulent rhinorrhea for a month. Only an oroantral fistula was found during physical examination. The second case is a 35-year-old male, with decreased left visual acuity and palatal pain with a fistula, draining purulent secretion for four months. Both patients have history of diabetes, had moderate COVID-19 four months prior to admission, and received corticosteroid therapy for this diagnosis. Tomographic evaluation of both patients showed involvement of the maxillary sinus and surrounding bone tissue; both received diagnostic and therapeutic nasal endoscopy for debridement. Histological analysis showed that the samples were compatible with mucormycosis. The patients underwent debridement and were treated with amphotericin B deoxycholate; however, they presented torpid evolution. Then, HBOT was added and the patients showed an evident improvement after four weeks of treatment with subsequent controls without the presence of mucormycosis. We highlight the favorable evolution of these patients while receiving HBOT as treatment for a disease with high morbimortality, which emerged during the pandemic.

Mucurmicosis rinocerebral en un paciente con diabetes descompensada

La mucormicosis es una infección con una alta mortalidad, el pronóstico está en relación con el diagnóstico precoz, el tratamiento quirúrgico y antimicótico. Se presenta un varón de 65 años de edad, hipertenso conocido, tratado con losartan, ingresa con una historia de 15 días de evolución con astenia, anorexia, pérdida de peso y cefalea holocraneana, y ptosis palpebral de una semana de evolución. Al examen físico se constata una protrusión ocular y parálisis del tercer par del ojo derecho. Presentó hiperglicemia que fue revertida con insulina. La resonancia magnética de órbita y senos paranasales mostró un engrosamiento del nervio óptico derecho, ocupación de los senos paranasales. El paciente fue sometido a un tratamiento quirúrgico de la lesión retrocular, la biopsia de la lesión mostró al examen directo hifas hialinas compatible con mucorales. Se inició tratamiento con amfotericina B.

Mucormycosis is an infection with high mortality, the prognosis is related to early diagnosis, surgical and antifungal treatment. We present a 65-year-old male, known hypertensive, under treatment with losartan, admitted with a 15-day history of asthenia, anorexia, weight loss and holocranial headache, and palpebral ptosis of one week's evolution. Physical examination revealed ocular protrusion and paralysis of the third pair of the right eye. The patient presented hyperglycemia that was reversed with insulin. Magnetic resonance imaging of the orbit and paranasal sinuses showed thickening of the right optic nerve, occupation of the paranasal sinuses. The patient underwent surgical treatment of the retrocular lesion, biopsy of the lesion showed hyaline hyphae compatible with mucorales on direct examination. Treatment with amphotericin B was started.

Disseminated mucormycosis in a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: autopsy findings / Mucormicosis diseminada en un paciente pediátrico con leucemia linfoblástica aguda: hallazgos de la autopsia

Abstract Background: Mucormycosis is a rare infection caused by ubiquitous fungi of the Mucorales order that mainly affects immunocompromised patients. These fungi have an important tropism for blood vessels that allows them to spread rapidly and cause thromboembolic events. Case report: We present a case of an 8-year-old male patient diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated with chemotherapy. He presented icteric syndrome, hepato-splenomegaly, and data of intestinal obstruction. Although he underwent intestinal resection, he did not improve and died. The autopsy identified disseminated mucormycosis involving the brain, lungs, esophagus, small intestine, colon, and pancreas. Conclusions: Hematological neoplastic diseases and their treatment are important risk factors for developing infections by opportunistic microorganisms such as mucormycosis. Early diagnosis and adequate treatment are essential due to their intrinsic difficulty and the high mortality rate of these cases.

Resumen Introducción: La mucormicosis es una infección poco frecuente causada por hongos ubicuos del orden de los Mucorales que afecta principalmente a pacientes inmunocomprometidos. Estos hongos poseen un importante tropismo por vasos sanguíneos que les permite diseminarse rápidamente y provocar lesiones trombo-embólicas. Caso clínico: Se presenta el caso de un paciente de sexo masculino de 8 años con diagnóstico de leucemia linfoblástica aguda tratada con quimioterapia. Presentó síndrome ictérico, hepato-esplenomegalia y datos de obstrucción intestinal. A pesar de que fue sometido a resección intestinal, no presentó mejoría y falleció. En la autopsia se identificó mucormicosis diseminada con afección de cerebro, pulmones, esófago, intestino delgado, colon y páncreas. Conclusiones: Las enfermedades neoplásicas hematológicas y su tratamiento son importantes factores de riesgo para el desarrollo de infecciones por microorganismos oportunistas como la mucormicosis. El diagnóstico temprano y adecuado tratamiento son importantes debido a la dificultad intrínseca de los mismos y la alta tasa de mortalidad de estos casos.

Spectrum of opportunistic fungal lung co-infections in COVID-19: What the radiologist needs to know.

Fungal lung co-infections associated with COVID-19 may occur in severely ill patients or those with underlying co-morbidities, and immunosuppression. The most common invasive fungal infections are caused by aspergillosis, mucormycosis, pneumocystis, cryptococcus, and candida. Radiologists integrate the clinical disease features with the CT pattern-based approach and play a crucial role in identifying these co-infections in COVID-19 to assist clinicians to make a confident diagnosis, initiate treatment and prevent complications.

Mucormicosis periostomal posoperatoria, a propósito de un caso / Mucormycosis periostomal: case report

Resumen Introducción: La mucormicosis en una enfermedad infrecuente y oportunista que afecta, principalmente, a pacientes inmunocomprometidos. Pocas veces se han reportado casos de afectación periostomal. Clínicamente puede ser confundida con otras patologías, pudiendo tener una evolución fulminante, por lo que un adecuado y pronto diagnóstico son necesarios para una instauración precoz del tratamiento. Caso Clínico: Se presenta el caso de una paciente de 62 años inmunocomprometida, que tras complicaciones quirúrgicas evoluciona con mucormicosis periostomal de la pared abdominal. A pesar de un tratamiento quirúrgico con múltiples resecciones de tejido asociado a antifúngico local y sistémico, la paciente fallece, concordante a la letalidad expresada en la literatura.

Introduction: Mucormycosis is a rare and opportunistic disease that mainly affects immunocompromised patients. Few cases of peristomal involvement have been reported. Clinically it can be confused with other pathologies and may have a fulminant evolution, so an adequate and prompt diagnosis is necessary for an early establishment of treatment. Clinical Case: We present the case of a 62-year-old immunocompromised patient who, after surgical complications, evolves with periostomal mucormycosis of the abdominal wall. Despite surgical treatment with multiple tissue resections, associated with local and systemic antifungal agents, the patient died, consistent with the lethality expressed in the literature.

Temporal Muscle Bipartition and Tripartition Transposition for Reconstructing the Orbital and Oral Empty Space in Mucormycosis of the Middle Third of the Face.

Background: Temporal muscle has great versatility to cover defects, caused by resections or large soft tissue losses of the middle facial third, has been used for more than 100 years. In the skin, the temporal muscle is transformed by the phenomenon called skin dermalization and mucolization in the oral cavity. Purpose: This article shows how the temporal muscle is divided into two segments (bipartition) or three segments (tripartition) achieving a transposition of the muscle to cover large empty spaces caused by orbital exenteration or in maxilectomy. In coronal slice tomography, we demonstrate the perfect adaptation of the temporal muscle to the periorbital soft tissues in 360 degrees of the orbital region. In the defect produced by the maxilectomy, a perfect seal is obtained to achieve the separation of the nasal cavity from the oral cavity. Methods: The treatment was carried out in 3 immunocompromised adult patients, who presented mucormycosis of the middle third of the face and could not swallow or feed. Results: The result we have in the survival of rhinocerebral mucormycosis is very high, due to extensive resections. Achieving that the patient has an adequate swallowing. Conclusion: We consider that the treatment is excellent due to the proximity of the temporal muscle to the surgical defect, achieving the objective of reconstruction without rejection.

Mucormicosis asociada a COVID-19. Un caso en Argentina / COVID-19 associated mucormycosis. A case in Argentina

Resumen La enfermedad COVID-19 provocada por el virus SARS-CoV-2 presenta una gravedad variable. Recientemente se ha observado un aumento en el número de casos informados de mucormicosis asociada a COVID-19 (CAM), principalmente en personas con diabetes mellitus, cetoacidosis diabética o en tratamiento con esteroides. El mayor número de casos ha sido notificado en India, en donde la prevalencia de CAM en pacientes hospitalizados en el año 2020 fue de 0.27%, lo que implica un aumento en la prevalencia de mucormicosis de 2.1 veces respecto del año 2019. Si bien el tratamiento con corticoides reduce la mortalidad en pacientes con COVID-19 grave, su uso prolongado, en combinación con otros factores clínicos e inmunológicos, puede aumentar el riesgo de infección fúngica invasiva. Comunicamos un caso de CAM en Argentina. El presente informe representa una alerta para fundar sospecha de infección fúngica invasiva en pacientes con COVID-19.

Abstract SARS-CoV-2 virus disease presents variable severity. Recently, an increasing report of cases of COVID-19 associated mucormycosis (CAM) has been observed, mainly in patients with diabetes mellitus, diabetic ketoacidosis or under steroids treatment. The highest number of cases have been reported in India, with a prevalence of 0.27 % in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 during year 2020, which implies a 2.1-fold increase in the prevalence of mucormycosis compared to year 2019. Although corticosteroids treatment reduces mortality in patients with severe COVID-19, its prolonged use, in combination with other clinical and immunological factors, could increase the risk of invasive fungal infection. We report a case of CAM in Argentina. This report represents a warning for considering the diagnosis of invasive fungal infection in patients with severe COVID-19.

Maxilectomia em paciente diabética tipo II, diagnosticada com Mucormicose rinomaxilar, com posterior reabilitação protética: relato de caso / Maxillectomy in a type II diabetic patient, diagnosed with rhinomaxillary mucormycosis, with subsequent prosthetic rehabilitation: case report / Maxilectomía en paciente diabética tipo II diagnosticada de mucormicosis rinomaxilar, con posterior rehabilitación protésica: reporte de caso

A mucormicose é uma infecção fúngica angioinvasiva que afeta uma ampla faixa etária, geralmente imunodeprimidos, sem predileção por gênero ou raça e com alta taxa de mortalidade. Essa infecção inicia se no nariz, devido à inalação dos esporos, podendo-se espalhar pelos seios paranasais, órbita e estruturas intracranianas. As características clínicas incluem parestesia perinasal, celulite periorbitária, rinorréia, obstrução nasal, epistaxe e diminuição de peso. O tratamento efetivo dessa comorbidade compoe uma combinação de manejo clínico e medicamentoso, conjuntamente com desbridamento cirúrgico radical do tecido infectado e/ou necrótico. O caso clínico descrito nesse trabalho refere-se a uma paciente diagnosticada com Mucormicose rino maxilar e diabetes do tipo II, a qual foi submetida a procedimento cirúrgico de hemimaxilectomia do lado esquerdo com posterior reabilitação protética para selamento de comunicação buco-naso-sino-etmoidal... (AU)

Mucormycosis is an angioinvasive fungal infection that affects a wide age group, usually immunocompromised, with no gender or race predilection, and with a high mortality rate. This infection starts in the nose, due to the inhalation of spores, and can spread through the paranasal sinuses, orbit and intracranial structures. Clinical features include perinasal paresthesia, periorbital cellulitis, rhinorrhea, nasal obstruction, epistaxis and weight loss. Effective treatment of this comorbidity comprises a combination of clinical and drug management, together with radical surgical debridement of infected and/or necrotic tissue. The clinical case described in this work refers to a patient diagnosed with Mucormycosis Rhinomaxilla and Type II diabetes, who underwent a surgical procedure of left hemimaxillectomy with subsequent prosthetic rehabilitation for sealing of the bucco nasal-sino-ethmoidal communication... (AU)

La mucormicosis es una micosis angioinvasiva que afecta a un amplio grupo de edad, habitualmente inmunodeprimidos, sin predilección de género ni raza, y con una alta tasa de mortalidad. Esta infección comienza en la nariz, debido a la inhalación de esporas, y puede extenderse a través de los senos paranasales, la órbita y las estructuras intracraneales. Las características clínicas incluyen parestesia perinasal, celulitis periorbitaria, rinorrea, obstrucción nasal, epistaxis y pérdida de peso. El tratamiento eficaz de esta comorbilidad comprende una combinación de manejo clínico y farmacológico, junto con un desbridamiento quirúrgico radical del tejido infectado y / o necrótico. El caso clínico descrito en este trabajo se refiere a una paciente diagnosticada de Mucormicosis Rinomaxilar y diabetes Tipo II, que fue sometida a un procedimiento quirúrgico de hemimaxilectomía izquierda con posterior rehabilitación protésica para sellar la comunicación buco-nasal-sino-etmoidal... (AU)

COVID-19 y rinosinusitis invasiva aguda secundaria a mucormicosis: a propósito de 2 casos en Colombia / Covid-19 and acute invasive rhinosinusitis secondary to mucormycosis: report of two cases in Colombia

Introducción: la mucormicosis es una infección micótica poco frecuente, también conocida como zigomicosis o phycomycosis, de baja prevalencia, pero con alta mortalidad, por lo regular ocasionada por estados de inmunosupresión como los que ocurren después de infecciones por COVID-19, teniendo esta asociación patológica una alta tasa de mortalidad y secuelas en la salud de los que la padecen. Presentación de los casos: son dos casos de mucormicosis rinocerebral asociados con COVID-19 y se describen el manejo y los desenlaces.

Introduction:mucormycosis is a rare fungal infection, also known as zygomycosis or phycomycosis. It features low prevalence and high mortality rate. It usually affects patients with altered immunity precipitated by COVID-19 infection. This co-infection is associated with high mortality rate and sequelae in affected patients. Case report: we present two cases of rhino-cerebral mucormycosis co-infection in COVID-19 patients, the provided treatment, and outcomes.

Oral involvement in mucormycosis. A retrospective study of 55 cases.

INTRODUCTION: Mucormycosis with oral involvement (OIM) is a rare opportunistic and lethal mycosis, which has increased in the last decade and is generally associated with uncontrolled diabetes and neutropenia. METHODS: A retrospective study of cases with OIM was carried out in a tertiary-care center. Mycological and histological examinations were performed, and the isolated organisms were identified by morphology and molecular biology. RESULTS: Fifty-five OIM patients were included, with a median age of 38 years (61.8% males). The most frequent associated disease was type-2 diabetes mellitus (61%), followed by neutropenia due to acute lymphocytic leukemia (27%). The main presentation was palatal and mandibular ulcers (92.7%) and, to a lesser extent, gingival and lingual necrosis. The diagnosis was established by mycological and histopathological studies. The most frequent fungi isolated was Rhizopus arrhizus (67.2%). CONCLUSION: OIM is a rapidly progressing disease, therefore, an early diagnosis and the proper control of predisposing factors is necessary, and consequently, contributing to improve the outcome of mucormycosis.

Mucormicosis rino-orbito-cerebral en paciente con diagnóstico presuntivo de COVID-19

La mucormicosis es una infección fúngica producida por hongos del orden Mucoral, que se desarrolla con mayor frecuencia en pacientes inmunocomprometidos, caracterizada por producir invasión de vasos sanguíneos con posterior trombosis e isquemia del área de lesión lo que produce manifestaciones rinocerebral, cutánea, gastrointestinal, diseminada y miscelánea. En la actualidad con el resurgimiento del Coronavirus y el uso desmedido de esteroides se ha evidenciado un incremento en los casos de Mucormicosis asociados a esta patología. Se presenta el caso de una paciente de 55 años de edad, quien recibió tratamiento para infección presuntiva por COVID-19 y que desarrolló manifestaciones clínicas de mucormicosis rino-orbito- cerebral

Mucormycosis is a fungal infection produced by fungi of the Mucoral order, which develops more frequently in immunocompromised patients, characterized by causing invasion of blood vessels with subsequent thrombosis and ischemia of the lesion area which produces rhinocerebral, cutaneous, gastrointestinal, disseminated manifestations and miscellaneous. At present, with the resurgence of the Coronavirus and the excessive use of steroids, there has been an increase in the cases of Mucormycosis associated with this pathology. The case of a 55- year-old patient is presented, who received treatment for presumptive infection by COVID-19 and who developed clinical manifestations of rhino-orbito-cerebral Mucormycosis, with subsequent mycological diagnosis