Mucormycosis : Black fungus
"It is ubiquitous and found in soil and air and even in the nose and mucus of healthy people".
It affects the sinuses, the brain and the lungs and can be life-threatening in diabetic or severely immunocompromised individuals, such as cancer patients or people with HIV/AIDS.
Type of Mucormycosis :
1. Rhinocerebral (sinus and brain) mucormycosis
2. Gastrointestinal mucormycosis
3.Cutaneous (skin) mucormycosis
4. Disseminated mucormycosis
5.Pulmonary (lung) mucormycosis
Rhinocerebral (sinus and brain) mucormycosis
Rhinocerebral mucormycosis is a rare opportunistic infection of the sinuses , nasal passages, oral cavity, and brain caused by saprophytic fungi. The infection can rapidly result in death. Rhinocerebral mucormycosis commonly affects individuals with diabetes and those in immunocompromised states.
Gastrointestinal mucormycosis
Gastrointestinal Mucormycosis is more common among young children than adults, especially premature and low birth weight infants less than 1 month of age, who have had antibiotics, surgery, or medications that lower the body’s ability to fight germs and sickness.
Cutaneous (skin) mucormycosis:
Cutaneous Mucormycosis occurs after the fungi enter the body through a break in the skin (for example, after surgery, a burn, or other type of skin trauma). This is the most common form of mucormycosis among people who do not have weakened immune systems.
Disseminated mucormycosis
Disseminated Mucormycosis occurs when the infection spreads through the bloodstream to affect another part of the body. The infection most commonly affects the brain, but also can affect other organs such as the spleen, heart, and skin.
Pulmonary (lung) mucormycosis
Pulmonary mucormycosis (PM) is an uncommon fungal infection most often seen in immunocompromised patients. The fungus grows on decaying food, soil, and animal excrement. Patients usually become infected by inhalation of spores.Pulmonary (lung) mucormycosis
SYMPTOMS :
The symptoms of mucormycosis depend on where in the body the fungus is growing. Contact your healthcare provider if you have symptoms that you think are related to mucormycosis.
Symptoms of rhinocerebral (sinus and brain) mucormycosis include:
.One-sided facial swelling
.Headache
.Nasal or sinus congestion
.Black lesions on nasal bridge or upper .inside of mouth that quickly become more severe
.Fever
Symptoms of pulmonary (lung) mucormycosis include:
.Fever
.Cough
.Chest pain
.Shortness of breath
Cutaneous (skin) mucormycosiscan look like blisters or ulcers, and the infected area may turn black. Other symptoms include pain, warmth, excessive redness, or swelling around a wound.
Symptoms of gastrointestinal mucormycosis include:
.Abdominal pain
.Nausea and vomiting
.Gastrointestinal bleeding
Disseminated mucormycosis typically occurs in people who are already sick from other medical conditions, so it can be difficult to know which symptoms are related to mucormycosis. Patients with disseminated infection in the brain can develop mental status changes or coma.
SOURCE OF MUCORMYCOSIS :
Mucormycetes, the group of fungi that cause mucormycosis, are present throughout the environment, particularly in soil and in association with decaying organic matter, such as leaves, compost piles, and animal dung. They are more common in soil than in air, and in summer and fall than in winter or spring. Most people come in contact with microscopic fungal spores every day, so it’s probably impossible to completely avoid coming in contact with mucormycetes. These fungi aren’t harmful to most people. However, for people who have weakened immune systems, breathing in mucormycete spores can cause an infection in the lungs or sinuses which can spread to other parts of the body.
Types of fungi that cause mucormycosis
Several different types of fungi can cause mucormycosis. These fungi are called mucormycetes and belong to the scientific order Mucorales. The most common types that cause mucormycosis are Rhizopus species and Mucor species. 5 Other examples include Rhizomucor species, Syncephalastrum species, Cunninghamella bertholletiae, Apophysomyces, Lichtheimia (formerly Absidia), Saksenaea, and Rhizomucor
Who gets mucormycosis?
Mucormycosis is rare, but it’s more common among people who have health problems or take medicines that lower the body’s ability to fight germs and sickness. Certain groups of people are more likely to get mucormycosish including people with:
- Diabetes, especially with diabetic ketoacidosis
- Cancer
- Organ transplant
- Stem cell transplant
- Neutropenia (low number of white blood cells)
- Long-term corticosteroid use
- Injection drug use
- Too much iron in the body (iron overload or hemochromatosis)
- Skin injury due to surgery, burns, or wounds
- Prematurity and low birthweight (for neonatal gastrointestinal mucormycosis)
Prevention :
There is no vaccine to prevent mucormycosis. For people who have weakened immune systems, there may be some ways to lower the chances of developing mucormycosis.
- Protect yourself from the environment. It’s important to note that although these actions are recommended, they haven’t been proven to prevent mucormycosis.
- Try to avoid areas with a lot of dust like construction or excavation sites. If you can’t avoid these areas, wear an N95 respirator (a type of face mask) while you’re there.
- Avoid direct contact with water-damaged buildings and flood water after hurricanes and natural disasters.
- Avoid activities that involve close contact to soil or dust, such as yard work or gardening. If this isn’t possible,
- Wear shoes, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt when doing outdoor activities such as gardening, yard work, or visiting wooded areas.
- Wear gloves when handling materials such as soil, moss, or manure.
- To reduce the chances of developing a skin infection, clean skin injuries well with soap and water, especially if they have been exposed to soil or dust.
- Antifungal medication. If you are at high risk for developing mucormycosis (for example, if you’ve had an organ transplant or a stem cell transplant), your healthcare provider may prescribe medication to prevent mucormycosis and other mold infections. 7,8 Doctors and scientists are still learning about which transplant patients are at highest risk and how to best prevent fungal infections.
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