TY - JOUR
T1 - Mucormycosis
T2 - What emergency physicians need to know?
AU - Long, Brit
AU - Koyfman, Alex
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 Elsevier Inc.
PY - 2015
Y1 - 2015
N2 - Background Mucormycosis is a rare presentation for patients in the emergency department (ED), primarily affecting immunocompromised patients. Multiple forms of infection are present, and with poor prognosis, ED diagnosis and treatment of this deadly condition are necessary. Objective of review The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the presentations and forms of mucormycosis, diagnosis, and treatment of this deadly disease. Discussion This review provides background on the fungi causing mucormycosis, which are prevalent in nature. The article discusses the risk factors for infection with mucormycosis, as normal hosts are able to clear the disease, but immunocompromised and diabetic patients are at risk for organism inoculation and spread. The fungi are angioinvasive and cause necrosis. This article describes the various forms of the disease: rhino-orbital-cerebral, pulmonary, central nervous system, gastrointestinal, renal, disseminated, and cutaneous. Finally, this review evaluates diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. Conclusion Emergency department diagnosis and treatment are necessary in patients with infection with mucormycosis. Physicians should be suspicious of this disease in immunocompromised and diabetic patients. Treatment requires antifungal agents such as amphotericin B and surgical debridement. Prognosis is poor.
AB - Background Mucormycosis is a rare presentation for patients in the emergency department (ED), primarily affecting immunocompromised patients. Multiple forms of infection are present, and with poor prognosis, ED diagnosis and treatment of this deadly condition are necessary. Objective of review The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the presentations and forms of mucormycosis, diagnosis, and treatment of this deadly disease. Discussion This review provides background on the fungi causing mucormycosis, which are prevalent in nature. The article discusses the risk factors for infection with mucormycosis, as normal hosts are able to clear the disease, but immunocompromised and diabetic patients are at risk for organism inoculation and spread. The fungi are angioinvasive and cause necrosis. This article describes the various forms of the disease: rhino-orbital-cerebral, pulmonary, central nervous system, gastrointestinal, renal, disseminated, and cutaneous. Finally, this review evaluates diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. Conclusion Emergency department diagnosis and treatment are necessary in patients with infection with mucormycosis. Physicians should be suspicious of this disease in immunocompromised and diabetic patients. Treatment requires antifungal agents such as amphotericin B and surgical debridement. Prognosis is poor.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.ajem.2015.08.037
DO - 10.1016/j.ajem.2015.08.037
M3 - Review article
C2 - 26452511
AN - SCOPUS:84951138117
SN - 0735-6757
VL - 33
SP - 1823
EP - 1825
JO - American Journal of Emergency Medicine
JF - American Journal of Emergency Medicine
IS - 12
ER -