Infections caused by mucorales

Abstract

The Mucoromycotina (which accommodates the Mucorales) are unique among fungi in their ability to infect a broader, more heterogeneous population of hosts than other opportunistic moulds. These fungi can cause rhinocerebral, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, cutaneous or disseminated infection in predisposed individuals, the different clinical forms often being associated with particular underlying disorders. Even though these fungi grow in many ecological niches, the infrequency of disease caused by agents of mucormycosis attests to their low potential for virulence. Risk factors associated with mucormycosis include prolonged neutropenia and use of corticosteroids, solid organ or haematopoietic stem cell transplantation, AIDS, poorly controlled diabetes mellitus, iron chelation with desferrioxamine, burns, wounds, malnutrition, extremes of age, and intravenous drug abuse. This chapter gives an overview of mucormycosis, including taxonomy, sources of infectious propagules, exposure pathways, epidemiology, risk factors, prevention of disease, clinical manifestations and laboratory investigations. Therapy is covered elsewhere in this volume.