Zygomycosis

Alison G. Freifeld; Peter C. Iwen

doi:10.1055/s-2004-824905

Seminars in Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Table of Contents

Semin Respir Crit Care Med 2004; 25(2): 221-231
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-824905

Zygomycosis

Alison G. Freifeld¹ , Peter C. Iwen²

¹Infectious Diseases Section, Department of Medicine, Omaha, Nebraska
²Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska

Abstract

Zygomycosis is an invasive mycotic disease caused by fungi in the class Zygomycetes. Within this class, the most common species associated with infection include Absidia corymbifera, Apophysomyces elegans, Cunninghamella bertholletiae, Rhizomucor pusillus, Rhizopus microsporus var. rhizopodiformis, and Rhizopus arrhizus. These fungi all produce characteristic hyphal forms in tissue that are variable in width, produce haphazard branching, and lack septation. Although these fungi are ubiquitous in the environment, they are opportunists causing invasive disease in compromised hosts with a high mortality even when aggressive antifungal therapy and surgical intervention are utilized. Clinically, the disease most often affects the sinus with or without pulmonary involvement; direct extension from sinuses into cerebral tissue is not uncommon. This article describes the general clinical features of zygomycosis, with an emphasis on management in the setting of immunosuppression.

KEYWORDS

Fungal infection - mucor - zygomycosis - immunocompromised host

Full Text

References

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Alison G FreifeldM.D.

Infectious Diseases Section, Department of Medicine

985400 University of Nebraska Medical Center

Omaha, NE 68198-5400

Email: afreifeld@unmc.edu