Apophysomyces elegans Caused Rhino-Orbito Mucormycosis: An Emerging Infection in Immunocompetent Individuals

Year 2017, Volume: 07 Issue: 04, 207 - 212, 01.12.2017

N. Dhaneshwor Singh Nishi Sharma Lobzang Dawa Shalini Malhotra

https://doi.org/10.5799/jmid.369276

Abstract

Mucormycosis is a rare
necrotizing angioinvasive infection caused by fungi of the class Zygomycetes
(order Mucorales). It predominantly occurs in immunocompromised/ predisposed
individuals. Recent surge in its incidence in healthy individuals has emphasized
the need to reconsider our age-old presumption of 'mucormycosis as a classical
opportunistic infection'. Apophysomyces elegans has emerged as a pathogen
causing invasive Rhino-Orbitocerebral Mucormycosis (ROCM), mostly in
immunocompetent individuals. Mostly resistant to commonly used azoles and
echinocandins, management of A elegans
associated ROCM solely depends on radical debridement and Amphotericin B.
Recent reports of Amphotericin B resistant A
elegans strains is disturbing. Till date only 12 cases of ROCM in
immunocompetent/ otherwise healthy individuals attributable to A elegans has been reported.

Our main objective is to
delineate the clinical characteristics and treatment outcome of
immunocompentent/ otherwise healthy individuals suffering from A elegans caused ROCM. We also report
four new cases of A. elagans caused ROCM.
J Microbiol Infect Dis 2017; 7(4):207-212

Keywords

Mucormycosis, Apophysomyces elegans, Rhino-Orbitocerebral Mucormycosis, Immunocompetent

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