Mucormycosis at a tertiary-care center in Mexico. A 35-year retrospective study of 214 cases.

BACKGROUND: Mucormycosis is a rare, invasive disease associated with high mortality rates, produced by opportunistic pathogens related to the Mucorales order and characterised by a diverse range of clinical forms; acute rhino-orbital-cerebral and pulmonary symptoms are the most reported ones. OBJECTIVES: To report the experience of mucormycosis observed in a tertiary-care hospital in Mexico for 35 years. METHODS: This was a retrospective, descriptive and observational study on mucormycosis at a tertiary-care hospital in Mexico from January 1985 to December 2019. Demographic and clinical data and mycological and histopathological records were selected. RESULTS: Two hundred fourteen proven cases of mucormycosis for 35 years at a tertiary-care hospital in Mexico were included. Most of the cases were male patients with a median age of 45 years. The two most associated underlying diseases were diabetes mellitus (76.6%) and haematologic malignancy (15.4%). The three primary clinical forms were as follows: rhino-orbito-cerebral (75.9%), cutaneous (8.41%) and pulmonary (7.47%) mucormycosis. The most isolated agents were Rhizopus arrhizus (58.4%) and Lichtheimia corymbifera (12.3%). The overall therapeutic response was 58.5%, and the best response was observed with amphotericin B deoxycholate and surgical debridement. CONCLUSION: Mucormycosis is an emerging disease, and its incidence has increased at our hospital over the years. In this study, the rhino-cerebral clinical type was the most frequent in patients with uncontrolled diabetes; the main aetiological agent was R. arrhizus. Early diagnosis, control of the underlying disease and prompt management may increase the survival rate.

Diabetes mellitus as the major risk factor for mucormycosis in Mexico: Epidemiology, diagnosis, and outcomes of reported cases.

Mucormycosis is an emerging infectious disease with high rates of associated mortality and morbidity. Little is known about the characteristics of mucormycosis or entomophthoromycosis occurring in Mexico. A search strategy was performed of literature published in journals found in available databases and theses published online at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) library website reporting clinical cases or clinical case series of mucormycosis and entomophthoromycosis occurring in Mexico between 1982 and 2016. Among the 418 cases identified, 72% were diabetic patients, and sinusitis accounted for 75% of the reported cases. Diabetes mellitus was not a risk factor for entomophthoromycosis. Mortality rate was 51% (125/244). Rhizopus species were the most frequent isolates (59%, 148/250). Amphotericin B deoxycholate was used in 89% of cases (204/227), while surgery and antifungal management as combined treatment was used in 90% (172/191). In diabetic individuals, this combined treatment approach was associated with a higher probability of survival (95% vs 66%, OR = 0.1, 95% CI, 0.02-0.43' P = .002). The most common complications were associated with nephrotoxicity and prolonged hospitalization due to IV antifungal therapy. An algorithm is proposed to establish an early diagnosis of rhino-orbital cerebral (ROC) mucormycosis based on standardized identification of warning signs and symptoms and performing an early direct microbiological exam and histopathological identification through a multidisciplinary medical and surgical team. In summary, diabetes mellitus was the most common risk factor for mucormycosis in Mexico; combined antifungal therapy and surgery in ROC mucormycosis significantly improved survival.

Prognosis of acute invasive fungal rhinosinusitis related to underlying disease.

BACKGROUND: Acute invasive fungal rhinosinusitis (AIFRS) is a rare disease with high morbidity and mortality rates. The objective of this study was to correlate the initial clinical features of AIFRS to the prognosis after surgery. METHODS: Thirty-two patients with AIFRS were evaluated retrospectively. The correlation of underlying disease, fungus isolated, and extent of the disease to the clinical outcome of AIFRS was also evaluated. RESULTS: The most common underlying disease was hematological malignancy and aplasia (n=20). Aspergillus (n=13) and Mucoraceae (n=11) were the main fungi found in AIFRS. Mucosal biopsy confirmed fungal invasion to the nasal mucosa in all cases. Computed tomography and endoscopic findings showed a predominance of unilateral disease, with various stages of nasal involvement. All patients underwent surgical debridement and systemic antifungal therapy immediately after diagnosis. Sixteen patients died (50%) due to AIFRS. A poor prognosis was related to the extensiveness of AIFRS and to the underlying disease (patients with aplastic anemia and diabetes had the worst outcomes), but not to the fungus isolated. CONCLUSIONS: Early medical and surgical treatment is essential to improve the prognosis of AIFRS patients. A poorer prognosis was associated with underlying disease and extensiveness of AIFRS, but not to the fungus isolated.

Mucormicose:infecção oportunística grave em paciente imussuprimido.Relato de caso.

1. Mucormicose (zigomicose) é micose oportunística causada por fungos da ordem Mucorales, gêneros Rhizopus spp., Mucor spp., Rhizomucor spp. e Absidia spp., entre outros. 2. Mucormicose é enfermidade mais incidente em diabéticos em cetoacidose, pacientes com doenças linfoproliferativas, pós-transplantados e naqueles sob corticoterapia prolongada. 3. O subtipo clínico rinocerebral é o mais frequente e manifesta-se, em geral, por edema e dor periorbital, necrose cutâneo-mucosa e rápida evolução para comprometimento do sistema nervoso central. 4. O diagnóstico precoce é fundamental para que as chances de sobrevida sejam maiores. 5. Terapia antifúngica com anfotericina B, desbridamento cirúrgico precoce e reversão dos predisponentes sistêmicos são as condutas recomendadas.

Mucormicosis rino-orbito-cerebral: experiencia en doce años / Rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis: a twelve-year experience

Introducción: La mucormicosis rino-órbito-cerebral (MROC) es una infección poco frecuente y de alta mortalidad, causada por hongos pertenecientes al orden Mucorales. Afecta excepcionalmente a individuos sanos, siendo mucho más frecuente que se produzca en sujetos inmunodeprimidos. Objetivo: Presentar la casuística de 12 años en mucormicosis del Hospital Barros Luco Trudeau. Material y método: El estudio incluye a 16 pacientes con MROC atendidos en el Hospital Barros Luco Trudeau, entre los años 1993 y 2004, detallando características clínicas de presentación de la enfermedad, procedimientos diagnósticos y terapéuticos realizados, efectos adversos de la terapia y mortalidad. Resultados: Sólo un paciente de la serie era inmunocompetente. El síntoma más frecuente fue dolor facial y el hallazgo más frecuente al examen físico, fue la presencia de una escara negra o grisácea en la mucosa nasal. El estudio micológico directo fue positivo en 11 casos, mientras que el cultivo de hongos resultó positivo sólo en 10 pacientes. Del total de pacientes, 15 recibieron tratamiento combinado de cirugía y terapia antifúngica intravenosa (anfotericina B). Once pacientes fueron debridados por medio de una cirugía abierta (8 maxilectomías parciales y 3 totales). Cuatro pacientes fueron debridados mediante una técnica endoscópicay todos ellos necesitaron mßs de un procedimiento. Discusión y Conclusión: Se discuten las causas y el hallazgo más consistente al examen físico y la conducta del hospital ante los casos sospechosos. También se comenta la importancia de las imágenes, el compromiso orbitario, la invasión cutánea y especialmente el tratamiento médico y quirúrgico. Se destaca la sobrevida general de la serie que fue de 62,5 por ciento

Introduction: Rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis (MROC) is a rare, high mortality infection, produced by fungi belonging to the order Mucorales. It exceptionally affects healthy individuals, being much more prevalent in immunocompromised patients. Aim: To present the 12year experience in mucormycosis at the Barros Luco Trudeau Hospital. Material and Method: This study involves 16 MROC patients that were treatedatthe Barros Luco Trudeau Hospital between 1993 and 2004. We present detailed clinical characteristics of the disease, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed, adverse therapy effects and mortality. Results: Only one of the patients was immunocompetent. The most frequent symptom was facial pain and the most frequent finding at physical examination was a black or grayish scab on the nasal mucosa. Direct mycological study was positive in 11 cases, whereas fungal culture was positive in only 10 patients. Of all patients, 15 received combined surgical and intravenous antifungal therapy (amphotericin B). Eleven patients had debridement by open surgery (8 partial and 3 total maxillectomies). Four patients had endoscopic debridement; all of them required more than one procedure. Discussion and Conclusion: Possible causes are discussed as well as the more consistent findings at physical examination and the institution behavior when suspecting a case. In addition, imaging importance, orbital involvement, cutaneous invasion and medical and surgical treatments are discussed. The series survival rate of 62 percent is underscored

Mucormicosis: infección necrotizante como complicación de dermolipectomía abdominal / Mucormycosis: necrotizing infection as a complication of abdominal dermolipectomy

Las infecciones necrotizantes de los tejidos blandos varían en su presentación clínica, pero en general son de curso grave y alta mortalidad. El cuadro clínico incluye: fiebre, celulitis, edema, crepitación, necrosis y sepsis; con frecuencia existe un antecedente o traumático quirúrgico. Como hallazgo operatorio se encuentra necrosis de la piel y tejido subcutáneo, con o sin mionecrosis. El tratamiento es una inmediata y amplia debridación acompañada con antibioticoterapia de amplio espectro. Se presenta un caso clínico de infección necrotizante de tejidos blandos por mucor, en una mujer con antecedente de abdominoplastia y lipoescultura con progresión crítica y evolución fatal. La mucormicosis es una patología agresiva, cuyo diagnostico clínico no es fácil por lo cual debe ser considerada seriamente por el cirujano plástico.

Mucormicosis rinocerebral. Reporte de un caso y revisión de la literatura / Rhinocerebral mucormycosis. A case report and review of the literature

La mucormicosis (MM) es una infección producida por el hongo, del género Rhizomucor, patógeno bajo condiciones de inmunocompromiso. Existen varias formas de presentación clínica: rinocerebral, pulmonar, mucocutánea, gastrointestinal y diseminada. La presentación rinocerebral es frecuentemente fatal, a pesar del uso de la anfotericina B, terapia hiperbárica y resección quirúrgica agresiva. Presentamos el caso de un paciente femenino de 61 años, diabética crónica con MM rinocerebral, enfermedad sumamente rara, que es descrita por primera vez en el Servicio de Neurocirugía del Centro Médico Nacional ®20 de Noviembre¼. El padecimiento fue de ocho meses de evolución y se caracterizó por: cefalea nasofrontal opresiva, crisis convulsivas tónico clónicas generalizadas, descargas nasales serohemáticas fétidas, disminución progresiva de la agudeza visual hasta la amaurosis bilateral, proptosis, oftalmoplejía de nervios oculomotores y pérdida ponderal de 15 Kg. La tomografía craneal demostró hiperdensidad nasoetmoidal con extensión frontal y orbitaria. Se realizó legrado de la lesión y toma de biopsia que corroboró la MM. Se administró anfotericina B tópica y sistémica, quedando la duda del efecto terapéutico del manejo hiperbárico en este padecimiento. Finalmente la paciente falleció 1.4 años después

Mucormicosis rinocerebral por Rhizopus sp / Cerebral mucormycosis by Rhizopus sp

Masculino de 24 años de edad con diabetes mellitus insulino-dependiente descompensada, cetoacidosis y mucormicosis rinocerebral por Rhizopus sp. Se trató en forma multidisciplinaria con control metabólico, anfotericina B y extensa debridación del área necrótica. El resultado fue satisfactorio; se planeó reconstrucción quirúrgica

Necrotizing soft tissue lesions after a volcanic cataclysm.

A volcanic cataclysm of major proportions, the fourth largest in terms of total casualties in the history of mankind, wiped out the town of Armero, Colombia, in 1985 resulting in over 23,000 deaths and 4,500 wounded. Among the hundreds of survivors who were transferred to hospitals in the capital city of Bogotá, there was as overwhelming number who developed necrotizing fasciitis. These patients constitute, perhaps, the single largest group of this type of lesions in the recorded literature. Thirty-eight patients with well established necrotizing fasciitis were identified at 4 selected hospitals in Bogotá; 8 of them presented with zygomycetic infection (mucormycosis), a highly lethal entity. Many additional cases were treated at other hospitals in Bogotá and several cities in Colombia. The main clinical features of these 38 patients affected by necrotizing fasciitis are reviewed, with special emphasis on the patients with mucormycosis. Patients with necrotizing fasciitis had an overall mortality rate of 47.7%; patients with mucormycosis, 80%. A plea is made for an early diagnosis, utilizing tissue sampling and microbiological studies, so that prompt and radical treatment can be instituted. This is especially pertinent in situations of natural disasters resulting in massive numbers of casualties and seriously injured survivors.