Epidemiology and clinical manifestations of mucormycosis

Disseminated mucormycosis with myocardial involvement in a renal transplant recipient

We report the case of a renal transplant recipient with pulmonary and splenic mucormycosis whose demise was accelerated by a myocardial abscess. Once pulmonary and splenic mucormycosis was diagnosed, liposomal amphotericin B was started and immunosuppressant treatments were discontinued. The pulmonary cavities regressed during treatment, but new myocardial and peri-allograft abscesses developed. The myocardial abscess diffusely infiltrated the left ventricular wall and was associated with akinesia, which led to sudden cardiac arrest. This case demonstrates a rare manifestation of mucormycosis and highlights the fatality and invasiveness of this infection.

A zebrafish larval model reveals early tissue-specific innate immune responses to Mucor circinelloides

Mucormycosis is an emerging fungal infection that is clinically difficult to manage, with increasing incidence and extremely high mortality rates. Individuals with diabetes, suppressed immunity or traumatic injury are at increased risk of developing disease. These individuals often present with defects in phagocytic effector cell function. Research using mammalian models and phagocytic effector cell lines has attempted to decipher the importance of the innate immune system in host defence against mucormycosis. However, these model systems have not been satisfactory for direct analysis of the interaction between innate immune effector cells and infectious sporangiospores in vivo. Here, we report the first real-time in vivo analysis of the early innate immune response to mucormycete infection using a whole-animal zebrafish larval model system. We identified differential host susceptibility, dependent on the site of infection (hindbrain ventricle and swim bladder), as well as differential functions of the two major phagocyte effector cell types in response to viable and non-viable spores. Larval susceptibility to mucormycete spore infection was increased upon immunosuppressant treatment. We showed for the first time that macrophages and neutrophils were readily recruited in vivo to the site of infection in an intact host and that spore phagocytosis can be observed in real-time in vivo. While exploring innate immune effector recruitment dynamics, we discovered the formation of phagocyte clusters in response to fungal spores that potentially play a role in fungal spore dissemination. Spores failed to activate pro-inflammatory gene expression by 6 h post-infection in both infection models. After 24 h, induction of a pro-inflammatory response was observed only in hindbrain ventricle infections. Only a weak pro-inflammatory response was initiated after spore injection into the swim bladder during the same time frame. In the future, the zebrafish larva as a live whole-animal model system will contribute greatly to the study of molecular mechanisms involved in the interaction of the host innate immune system with fungal spores during mucormycosis.

Gastrointestinal mucormycosis in immunocompromised hosts

Invasive mucormycosis is a rare fungal infection in immunocompromised hosts, but it carries a high mortality rate. Primary gastrointestinal disease is the least frequent form of presentation. Early diagnosis and treatment are critical in the management; however, symptoms are typically non-specific in gastrointestinal disease, leading to delayed therapy. To describe the clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment and outcomes of gastrointestinal mucormycosis in immunocompromised hosts, we reviewed all cases of primary gastrointestinal mucormycosis in immunocompromised hosts reported in English literature as well as in our Institution from January 1st 1991 to December 31st 2013 for a total of 31 patients. About 52% of patients underwent solid organ transplant (SOT), while the rest had an underlying haematologic malignancy. Abdominal pain was the most common presenting symptom, followed by gastrointestinal bleeding and fever. Gastric disease was more common in SOT, whereas those with haematologic malignancy presented with intestinal disease (P = 0.002). Although gastrointestinal mucormycosis remains an uncommon condition in immunocompromised hosts, it carries significant morbidity and mortality, particularly in cases with intestinal involvement. A high index of suspicion is of utmost importance to institute early and appropriate therapy and improve outcomes.

Gastrointestinal Mucormycosis Resulting in a Catastrophic Outcome in an Immunocompetent Patient

We present a case of a middle-aged female who was admitted to the hospital with a respiratory infection and subsequently developed an acute surgical abdomen secondary to a perforated viscous. She was found to have mucormycosis of the intestinal tract and eventually succumbed to the sequelae of the infection.

VT-1161 Protects Immunosuppressed Mice from Rhizopus arrhizus var. arrhizus Infection

We studied the efficacy of the investigational drug VT-1161 against mucormycosis. VT-1161 had more potent in vitro activity against Rhizopus arrhizus var. arrhizus than against R. arrhizus var. delemar. VT-1161 treatment demonstrated dose-dependent plasma drug levels with prolonged survival time and lowered tissue fungal burden in immunosuppressed mice infected with R. arrhizus var. arrhizus and was as effective as high-dose liposomal amphotericin B treatment. These results support further development of VT-1161 against mucormycosis.

Early Diagnosis of Cutaneous Mucormycosis Due to Lichtheimia corymbifera After a Traffic Accident

A case report of cutaneous mucormycosis and obstacles to early diagnosis is presented. A 38-year-old male was involved in a car accident that led to amputation of both lower limbs. Subsequently, he developed fungal wound infection of the left lower limb stump. The infection was detected very early, although the diagnosis was difficult because only a small area was affected and histopathological examination was initially negative. The infection was proven by microscopy, culture and histopathology. The isolate was identified by sequencing of the rDNA ITS region gene (internal transcribed spacer region of ribosomal DNA) as Lichtheimia corymbifera. Liposomal amphotericin B and surgery were successful in management of the disease.

Rhinocerebral Mucormycosis Among Diabetic Patients: An Emerging Trend

Mucormycosis is an acute necrotic fungal infection with a fulminant course. Earlier considered a rare entity, mucormycosis is being reported with increasing frequency in recent years, possibly due to the increase in immunocompromised population especially diabetic patients. We report three cases of rhinocerebral mucormycosis among poorly controlled diabetic patients. This article emphasizes the need for further awareness of this disease, early diagnosis, and treatment to counter this opportunistic infection.

Purification and characterization of a cytochrome c with novel caspase-3 activation activity from the pathogenic fungus Rhizopus arrhizus

BACKGROUND

Members of Rhizopus species are the most common cause of mucormycosis, a rare but often fatal fungal infection. Host induced pathogen apoptosis and pathogen induced host cell apoptosis are often involved in fungal infections. In many organisms, the release of mitochondrial cytochrome c can trigger apoptosis by activating caspase proteases, but the role of fungal cytochrome c in apoptosis remains unknown.

RESULTS

DNA sequence encoding Rhizopus arrhizus cytochrome c was cloned and expressed in E. coli. Both native and recombinant cytochrome c were purified using ion exchange followed by gel filtration chromatography. The identities of purified proteins were confirmed by MALDI-MS and UV-Visible spectroscopy. For the first time, we demonstrated that Rhizopus arrhizus cytochrome c could activate human capspase-3 in HeLa cell extracts. We also found that Rhizopus arrhizus cytochrome c has redox potential, peroxidase activity, and spectral properties similar to human and horse cytochrome c proteins.

CONCLUSIONS

Rhizopus arrhizus cytochrome c can activate human caspase-3 in HeLa cell extracts and it possesses similar physical and spectral properties as human and horse cytochrome c. This protein was found to have a previously unknown potential to activate human caspase-3, an important step in the apoptosis cascade.

Consensus guidelines for the treatment of invasive mould infections in haematological malignancy and haemopoietic stem cell transplantation, 2014

Mould species represent the pathogens most commonly associated with invasive fungal disease in patients with haematological malignancies and patients of haemopoietic stem cell transplants. Invasive mould infections in these patient populations, particularly in the setting of neutropenia, are associated with high morbidity and mortality, and significantly increase the complexity of management. While Aspergillus species remain the most prevalent cause of invasive mould infections, Scedosporium and Fusarium species and the Mucormycetes continue to place a significant burden on the immunocompromised host. Evidence also suggests that infections caused by rare and emerging pathogens are increasing within the setting of broad-spectrum antifungal prophylaxis and improved survival times placing immunosuppressed patients at risk for longer. These guidelines present evidence-based recommendations for the antifungal management of common, rare and emerging mould infections in both adult and paediatric populations. Where relevant, the role of surgery, adjunctive therapy and immunotherapy is also discussed.

Development of new strategies for early diagnosis of mucormycosis from bench to bedside

Early diagnosis and initiation of amphotericin B (AmB) for treatment of mucormycosis increases survival from approximately 40% to 80%. The central objective of a new study of the European Confederation of Medical Mycology (ECMM) and the International Society for Human and Animal Mycology (ISHAM) Zygomycosis Working Group is to improve the clinical and laboratory diagnosis of mucormycosis. The diagnostic tools generated from this study may help to significantly improve survival from mucormycosis worldwide. The study has three major objectives: to conduct a prospective international registration of patients with mucormycosis using a well-established global network of centres; to construct a predictive risk model for patients at risk for mucormycosis; and to establish an international archive of specimens of tissues, fluids, and organisms linked from the patients enrolled into the registry that will be used for development of leading edge molecular, proteomic, metabolic and antigenic systems for mucormycosis.

[Infectious pulmonary diseases]

Infektiöse Lungenerkrankungen oder Pneumonien sind die Haupttodesursache innerhalb der Infektionskrankheiten in Deutschland. Hierbei ist die bakterielle Verursachung am häufigsten. Die Form der Entzündung wird meist durch das schädigende Agens bestimmt, jedoch sind häufig verschiedene Reaktionen anzutreffen. Morphologisch kann nur in wenigen Fällen der Erreger konkret bestimmt werden, sodass meist eine zusätzliche mikrobiologische Erregerdiagnostik notwendig ist. Klinisch erfolgt eine Einteilung in ambulant erworbene und nosokomiale Pneumonien, Pneumonien bei Immunsuppression und die Mykobakteriosen. Histologisch ist eine Einteilung gemäß der bevorzugten Ausbreitung in alveoläre und interstitielle bzw. in lobäre und herdförmige Pneumonien möglich.

Changing Epidemiology of Mucoralean Fungi: Chronic Cutaneous Infection Caused by Mucor irregularis

INTRODUCTION

The fungi pertaining to order Mucorales usually cause an acute form of clinical disease called mucormycosis. A primary chronic presentation in an immunocompetent patient is a rare form of mucormycosis. Mucor irregularis is known for causing chronic cutaneous infections geographically confined to Asia, mainly in China. We describe a case of primary chronic cutaneous mucormycosis caused by M. irregularis from a new geographical niche in India, highlighting changing aspects of its epidemiology.

CASE PRESENTATION

The patient was a farmer with a history of skin lesions over the lower limb for the past 6 years. The biopsy taken from the lesions showed pauci-septate hyphae with right-angle branching on KOH wet mount as well as special fungal stains. On fungal culture, greyish-white cottony mycelial growth of Mucormycetes was obtained. The strain was finally identified as M. irregularis on macro- and microscopic features on 2 % MEA and DNA sequencing. The antifungal susceptibility was done using EUCAST broth microdilution method and was found to be susceptible to commonly used antifungal agents. The patient was started on oral itraconazole and saturated solution of potassium iodide (SSKI). While undergoing treatment for 2 months, he was lost to follow-up, however, after a year when he recently visited the hospital; the disease got completely healed with no new crops of skin lesions.

CONCLUSION

Mucoralean fungi should also be suspected in cases with chronic presentation, in immunocompetent host, as there is emergence of such fungi in new endemic areas, particularly located in Asia. The role of other antifungal agents apart from amphotericin B for the treatment of chronic mucormycosis needs to be explored.

Bilateral optic nerve infarction in rhino-cerebral mucormycosis: A rare magnetic resonance imaging finding

Mucormycosis is an emerging disease in diabetes and immunocompromised patients. Rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis is one of the common forms of the disease. Mucormycosis leading to ischemic optic neuropathy is a rare complication. The role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of ischemic optic neuropathy is limited and uncommonly reported. We report an unusual case of mucormycosis in which MRI revealed bilateral optic nerve infarction, in addition to perineural extension of the fungus along the trigeminal nerve, another uncommon imaging finding.

Absence of Fungal Spore Internalization by Bronchial Epithelium in Mouse Models Evidenced by a New Bioimaging Approach and Transmission Electronic Microscopy

Clinical data and experimental studies suggest that bronchial epithelium could serve as a portal of entry for invasive fungal infections. We therefore analyzed the interactions between molds and the bronchial/bronchiolar epithelium at the early steps after inhalation. We developed invasive aspergillosis (Aspergillus fumigatus) and mucormycosis (Lichtheimia corymbifera) murine models that mimic the main clinical risk factors for these infections. Histopathology studies were completed with a specific computer-assisted morphometric method to quantify bronchial and alveolar spores and with transmission electron microscopy. Morphometric analysis revealed a higher number of bronchial/bronchiolar spores for A. fumigatus than L. corymbifera. The bronchial/bronchiolar spores decreased between 1 and 18 hours after inoculation for both fungi, except in corticosteroid-treated mice infected with A. fumigatus, suggesting an effect of cortisone on bronchial spore clearance. No increase in the number of spores of any species was observed over time at the basal pole of the epithelium, suggesting the lack of transepithelial crossing. Transmission electron microscopy did not show spore internalization by bronchial epithelial cells. Instead, spores were phagocytized by mononuclear cells on the apical pole of epithelial cells. Early epithelial internalization of fungal spores in vivo cannot explain the bronchial/bronchiolar epithelium invasion observed in some invasive mold infections. The bioimaging approach provides a useful means to accurately enumerate and localize the fungal spores in the pulmonary tissues.

A rare case of subcutaneous mucormycosis due to Syncephalastrum racemosum: case report and review of literature

Zygomycosis represent a group of uncommon but potentially fatal fungal infections. The incidence of zygomycosis has increased manifold in recent years. Despite aggressive treatment, it can lead to a highly invasive disease state with fatal outcomes, especially among immuno-compromised. Syncephalastrum racemosum is a fungus belonging to Zygomycetes. Very few cases of human disease caused by this particular fungus have been documented. However, it has been clearly implicated in causing highly invasive disease in recent reported cases. Knowledge about the pathogenicity and clinical presentation of this rare fungal infection will alert the clinicians for instituting an early appropriate therapy leading to better outcomes.

Severe mycosis as a rare infection after a corn auger injury of the hand: a case report

Mucormycosis is a rare but serious infection that can be seen in immunocompetent individuals who experience traumatic injury. The authors report a case in a 28 year-old man who sustained a mangling hand injury in a corn augur accident. After initial aggressive debridement ongoing tissue necrosis was seen, and in subsequent biopsies invasive mucormycosis was diagnosed. The patient was successfully managed with immediate surgical debridement and antifungal medication and showed no sign of infection at six-month follow-up.

Infective gangrene in extremity trauma-are we targeting the right organisms?

Mucormycosis is a rare and fatal infection that is known to occur in immunocompromised and diabetic patients. The infection is caused by a fungus of the class Zygomycetes. It has been associated with open fractures in patients at risk. We report a case of cutaneous mucormycosis leading to gangrene after a closed fracture. We recommend considering mucormycosis as a differential for wound infections not responding to antibiotics, even in closed injuries. Tissue from surgical debridement should be sent for histopathological and microbiological examination to diagnose the condition early. Early recognition, surgical management, and parenteral antifungal therapy are the mainstay of management of this illness.

Isavuconazole: a new extended spectrum triazole for invasive mold diseases

ABSTRACT 

Isavuconazole is the first broad spectrum prodrug triazole with efficacy against invasive fungal diseases including aspergillosis and mucormycosis. Characteristics include linear dose-proportional pharmacokinetics, intravenous and oral formulations allowing therapeutic streamlining, once daily dosing, absence of nephrotoxic solubilizing agents and excellent oral bioavailability independent of prandial status and gastric acidity. An open label noncomparator study demonstrated encouraging results for isavuconazole as primary or salvage therapy for a range of fungi including mucormycosis. Isavuconazole had fewer premature drug discontinuations and adverse events in the eye, hepatobiliary and psychiatry systems than the comparator agent, voriconazole in a randomized double-blind clinical trial. Cross-resistance of isavuconazole best correlates with voriconazole. In vitro resistance is not invariably predictive of clinical failure. Isavuconazole signals progress in pharmacokinetics, bioavailability and toxicity/tolerability supported by clinical efficacy from Phase III trials.

When you can't see the wood for the trees. Mucor circinelloides: A rare case of primary cutaneous zygomycosis

A patient with refractory diffuse lymphoma treated for pulmonary invasive aspergillosis developed a concomitant primary cutaneous mucormycosis. The mucormycete was identified by sequencing as Mucor circinelloides. This case confirms the importance of a rapid pathogen diagnosis in immunocompromised patients and the usefulness of molecular methods for identification of rare fungal species.

Rhinocerebral mucormycosis: a retrospective study

Mucormycosis is an acute often fatal infection caused by fungi of family mucoracea (Kauffman and Malani Curr Infect Dis Rep 9(6):435-440). The principal pathogens in this family are rhizopus, mucor and absidia species. Mucoracea are found in soil, decaying vegetation and other organic matter. Mucormycosis is a polymorphic disease with diverse clinical manifestation. It is divided into rhinocerebral, pulmonary, cutaneous, cardiac, gastrointestinal and disseminated. Rhinocerebral mucormycosis the most commonest manifestation of mucormycosis is usually a fatal fulminant infection. Rhinocerebral mucormycosis can be further divided into rhino-maxillary and rhino-orbito-cerebral. The disease commonly occur in diabetics who have ketoacidosis but is also seen in severely debilitated or immunosuppressed patients. It has also been reported from otherwise normal individuals. Early diagnosis and treatment is mandatory for a successful management of this infection.

Fatal cutaneous mucormycosis after kidney transplant

Mucormycosis is an uncommon opportunistic infection that is caused by Mucorales from the Zygomycetes class. Patients with severe immunodeficiency admitted to the hospital are at greatest risk for developing this infection. Mucormycosis usually is transmitted in humans by inhalation or inoculation of spores in the skin or mucous membranes. A 66-year-old man developed a surgical wound infection at 1 week after kidney transplant that did not improve despite broad-spectrum antibiotics and debridement. He was transferred to our hospital 45 days after transplant and had fever and a large purulent wound that was surrounded by a black necrotizing margin. Immunosuppressive drugs were discontinued and the dosage of prednisolone was decreased. Massive debridement was performed but was incomplete because he had full-thickness abdominal wall necrosis. Histopathology showed broad fungal hyphae without septation, consistent with the diagnosis of mucormycosis. Despite antifungal therapy with amphotericin B and additional debridement, the patient died of septic shock at 52 days after kidney transplant. Cutaneous fungal infections should be considered in the differential diagnosis of any nonhealing infected wound that does not respond to broad-spectrum antibiotics, especially in patients with predisposing risk factors such as transplant.

Pulmonary tuberculosis and mucormycosis co-infection in a diabetic patient

Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus is associated with a variety of infections which pose management difficulties. Herein, we report a case of diabetic patient who developed combined pulmonary tuberculosis and mucormycosis. The case illustrates management of this rare co-infection which despite being potentially fatal was treated successfully.

Mitigation of human-pathogenic fungi that exhibit resistance to medical agents: can clinical antifungal stewardship help?

Reducing indiscriminate antimicrobial usage to combat the expansion of multidrug-resistant human-pathogenic bacteria is fundamental to clinical antibiotic stewardship. In contrast to bacteria, fungal resistance traits are not understood to be propagated via mobile genetic elements, and it has been proposed that a global explosion of resistance to medical antifungals is therefore unlikely. Clinical antifungal stewardship has focused instead on reducing the drug toxicity and high costs associated with medical agents. Mitigating the problem of human-pathogenic fungi that exhibit resistance to antimicrobials is an emergent issue. This article addresses the extent to which clinical antifungal stewardship could influence the scale and epidemiology of resistance to medical antifungals both now and in the future. The importance of uncharted selection pressure exerted by agents outside the clinical setting (agricultural pesticides, industrial xenobiotics, biocides, pharmaceutical waste and others) on environmentally ubiquitous spore-forming molds that are lesserstudied but increasingly responsible for drug-refractory infections is considered.

A fungating spica

Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is a common paediatric orthopaedic problem. There are various options for treatment dependent on the age and presentation. In closed and open reduction of DDH, we use a hip spica cast for immobilisation after the procedure. We present an unusual case of fungal growth on a hip spica. A 7-month-old girl presented to our institution with clusters of yellowish-white outgrowths resembling mushrooms from her spica. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of fungal growth on a hip spica following DDH treatment. It is of utmost importance to be aware of any growth on a hip spica, as this requires a prompt change of spica to avoid further complications. We recommend that the integrity of the spica and the skin be checked at regular intervals in patients with a hip spica.

Chronic renal failure presenting for the first time as pulmonary mucormycosis with a fatal outcome

Pulmonary mucormycosis is an uncommon, but important, opportunistic fungal pneumonia which is often diagnosed late. Renal failure as the predominant presenting feature is not common in mucormycosis. Moreover, sudden, massive hemoptysis is not a usual complication. In this report we describe fatal pulmonary mucormycosis in a young patient with a previously undiagnosed chronic renal failure.

Combat trauma-associated invasive fungal wound infections: epidemiology and clinical classification

The emergence of invasive fungal wound infections (IFIs) in combat casualties led to development of a combat trauma-specific IFI case definition and classification. Prospective data were collected from 1133 US military personnel injured in Afghanistan (June 2009-August 2011). The IFI rates ranged from 0·2% to 11·7% among ward and intensive care unit admissions, respectively (6·8% overall). Seventy-seven IFI cases were classified as proven/probable (n = 54) and possible/unclassifiable (n = 23) and compared in a case-case analysis. There was no difference in clinical characteristics between the proven/probable and possible/unclassifiable cases. Possible IFI cases had shorter time to diagnosis (P = 0·02) and initiation of antifungal therapy (P = 0·05) and fewer operative visits (P = 0·002) compared to proven/probable cases, but clinical outcomes were similar between the groups. Although the trauma-related IFI classification scheme did not provide prognostic information, it is an effective tool for clinical and epidemiological surveillance and research.

Successful Management of a Unique Condition of Isolated Intracranial Mucormycosis in an Immunocompetent Child

This report describes a unique case of isolated intracranial mucormycosis of a slowly progressive nature in a healthy immunocompetent child. A 4-year-old girl with a clear medical and surgical history presented with complaints of right side facial asymmetry and unsteady gait for a period of 10 months. Clinical and radiographic investigations revealed right-sided lower motor neuron facial palsy caused by an infiltrative lesion on the right cerebellopontine angle. Initial surgical debulking was performed, a biopsy was sent for histopathological examination, and a course of prophylactic antibiotic and antifungal drugs was prescribed. The pathological report confirmed the mucormycosis fungal infection, and intravenous amphotericin B was administered for 3 weeks. One month after admission, the patient left the hospital with complete recovery. Follow-ups after 4, 8 and 12 weeks revealed no sensory or motor neurological deficits. In conclusion, this is a unique case of mucormycosis with regard to the nature and location of the infection, along with the host being a healthy child. Initial surgical exploration is a very critical step in the early diagnosis and treatment of such rare conditions.

Outcome of mucormycosis after treatment: report of five cases

Mucormycoses are serious infections caused by filamentous fungi of the order Mucorales. They occur most often in immunocompromised patients. We report five cases of mucormycosis in patients hospitalized in the Infectious Diseases Department in Sousse – Tunisia between 2000 and 2013. They were 4 males and one female, mean age 60 years. Three patients were diabetic and one patient had acute leukemia. The locations of mucormycosis were rhinocerebral, rhino-orbital, auricular, pulmonary and cutaneous. The Mucorales isolated were Rhizopus arrhizus in 3 cases and Lichteimia in 2 cases. All patients were treated with amphotericin B and 2 patients had, in addition, surgical debridement. Two patients died and 2 kept peripheral facial paralysis.

Invasive rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis in a diabetic patient - the need for prompt treatment

Mucormycosis is a rare life threatening fungal infection predominately seen in immunocompromised or diabetic patients. The following case is of a known type II diabetic patient who presented with sepsis and sudden unilateral loss of vision secondary to infective rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis. Treatment of the condition required extensive surgical intervention and medical management for a life saving outcome.

Mucormycosis in Cairo, Egypt: review of 10 reported cases

We report on 10 cases of mucormycosis, as defined by The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer and Mycoses Study Group (EORTC/MSG) standards of invasive fungal diseases, among patients with a recent history of neutropenia, prolonged use of corticosteroids and treatment with immunosuppressants. They were all observed at the Ain Shams University Specialized Hospital in Cairo, Egypt, during the year 2010. These cases were categorized as 50% proven and 50% probable, with none considered to be possible mucormycosis. The median age of the patients discussed in this report was 50 years (range 22-68 years), of which 80% were male and 20% were female. Uncontrolled diabetes with ketoacidosis was noted in 60% of cases, while 40% of the patients had undergone liver transplantations. Pulmonary mucormycosis was the predominant presentation as it was noted in 80% of cases, but there was only 20% sinus involvement. Members of the genus Lichtheimia were the most common etiologic agents (40% of all cases), whereas Rhizopus ssp. were recovered from 30% of cases, Syncephalastrum spp. in 20%, and 10% of patients were infected with Rhizomucor. Liposomal formulation of amphotericin B (LAMB) was successfully used to treat all the cases described in this report. We concluded that the incidence of mucormycosis was relatively high during the study period in this one-center study and that additional studies looking into the diagnosis and the control of mucormycosis in Egypt are required.