Early diagnosis and successful management of oral mucormycosis in a hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipient: case report and literature review

Part 2: Mucormycosis: Focus on Therapy

INTRODUCTION

Mucormycosis (MCR) a rare but life-threatening infection occurs primarily in immunocompromised hosts. Mortality rates with invasive MCR are high (>30-50%), up to 90% with disseminated disease, but lower (10-30%) with localized cutaneous disease. Due to the rarity of MCR, randomized, controlled therapeutic trials are lacking. Lipid formulations of amphotericin B (LFAB) are the mainstay of therapy but oral triazoles (posaconazole and isavuconazole) may be effective as step-down therapy or in MCR cases refractory to or intolerant of LFAB. Early surgical debridement or excision play important adjunctive roles in localized invasive disease. Control of hyperglycemia in diabetic patients, correction of neutropenia and reduction of immunosuppressive therapy is critical for optimal survival.

AREAS COVERED

The authors discuss various therapeutic options for mucormycosis. A literature search of mucormycosis therapies was performed via PubMed (up to December 2022), using the key words: invasive fungal infections; mold; mucormycosis; Mucorales; amphotericin B; isavuconazole; posaconazole.

EXPERT OPINION

Randomized, controlled therapeutic trials are lacking. Lipid formulations of amphotericin B (LFAB) are the mainstay of therapy but oral triazoles (posaconazole and isavuconazole) may be effective as step-down therapy, in MCR cases refractory to or intolerant of LFAB. We encourage early surgical debridement or excision as adjunctive measures.

Extra-Rhino Cerebral Manifestations of Mucormycosis in Head and Neck Region: An Insight

Mucormycosis is a potentially life-threatening fungal infection with a high mortality rate. The difficulty and delay in diagnosis due to its rarity usually results in a poor prognosis. Most common site in head and neck region is the nose and paranasal sinuses. However there are other very unusual areas in head and neck region where mucormycosis is encountered. Knowledge of these unusual areas is must and can save a patient's life. To elaborate and highlight the unusual areas in head and neck region where mucormycosis can mimic other common diseases. This retrospective study was done from May 2010 to May 2019 over a period of 9 years. All histopathologically confirmed cases of Head and Neck mucormycosis were evaluated and data analyzed. Total 35 cases of head neck mucormycosis were encountered from May 2010 to May 2019 over a period of 9 years. Out of which 30 cases (85.72%) were of rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis and 5 cases (14.28%) were EXTRA rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis in head neck region. Mucormycosis at such unusual sites can cause diagnostic dilemma for the treating doctor. Clinical knowledge with anticipation is a must for success in treatment of mucormycosis in unusual places in head neck region especially when normal looking diseases does not respond to usual treatment.

Mucormycosis: risk factors, diagnosis, treatments, and challenges during COVID-19 pandemic

Mucormycosis is a deadly opportunistic disease caused by a group of fungus named mucormycetes. Fungal spores are normally present in the environment and the immune system of the body prevents them from causing disease in a healthy immunocompetent individual. But when the defense mechanism of the body is compromised such as in the patients of diabetes mellites, neustropenia, organ transplantation recipients, and other immune-compromised states, these fungal spores invade our defense mechanism easily causing a severe systemic infection with approximately 45-80% of case fatality. In the present scenario, during the COVID-19 pandemic, patients are on immunosuppressive drugs, glucocorticoids, thus are at high risk of mucormycosis. Patients with diabetes mellitus are further getting a high chance of infection. Usually, the spores gain entry through our respiratory tract affecting the lungs and paranasal sinuses. Besides, they can also enter through damage into the skin or through the gastrointestinal route. This review article presents the current statistics, the causes of this infection in the human body, and its diagnosis with available recent therapies through recent databases collected from several clinics and agencies. The diagnosis and identification of the infection were made possible through various latest medical techniques such as computed tomography scans, direct microscopic observations, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, serology, molecular assay, and histopathology. Mucormycosis is so uncommon, no randomized controlled treatment studies have been conducted. The newer triazoles, posaconazole (POSA) and isavuconazole (ISAV) (the active component of the prodrug isavuconazonium sulfate) may be beneficial in patients who are refractory to or intolerant of Liposomal Amphotericin B. but due to lack of early diagnosis and aggressive surgical debridement or excision, the mortality rate remains high. In the course of COVID-19 treatments, there must be more vigilance and alertness are required from clinicians to evaluate these invasive fungal infections.

Diagnosis, treatment and maxillofacial rehabilitation in rhinocerebral mucormycosis patient: A case report and review of the literature

Mucormycosis is an aggressive, rare and opportunistic infectious disease, with a high mortality rate. Etiologic agents are filamentous fungi, and infection among humans normally occurs through spore inhalation. A 61-year-old male individual, presenting left eye amaurosis, dark epistaxis, hyperalgesia and malodor underwent clinical examination, which detected ulcerative lesion and wide bone exposure in the hard palate and alveolar ridge. Direct microbiological examination, microbiological culture and lesion biopsy were performed. Non-septate smooth fungal hyphae forming right angles with each other were observed through the direct microbiological examination. Microbiological culture revealed fast-growing fungal colonies with cottony texture, identified as Rhizopus sp. Histopathological examination exhibited necrosis areas, intense mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate and bulky hyphae, thus concluding the mucormycosis diagnosis. Amphotericin B antifungal therapy and surgical intervention were adopted as treatment. The patient was then rehabilitated with maxillofacial prosthesis, subsequently to the healing of the surgical wound.

Traumatic Mucormycosis of Auricular Cartilage in an Iranian Diabetic Patient

Mucormycosis is an uncommon and acute fungal infection, with high morbidity and mortality. Traumatic mucormycosis mainly occurs in military conflicts, civilian trauma, and vehicle accidents. Hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and tsunamis also play a major role in causing mucormycosis by inoculation. Herein, we presented a case of trauma-related mucormycosis in a 70-year-old diabetic male. He referred to a specialty clinic due to the auricular swelling after having fallen and having a major trauma in his ear. Pathologic examination of necrotic cartilage revealed broad ribbon like aseptate hyphae. Antifungal therapy with amphotericin B deoxycholate (1.5 mg/kg/day) was administered for 6 weeks as an initial therapy, and the patient was discharged with a regimen of posaconazole oral solution (400 mg PO bid with meals) for 8 weeks. He followed up for one year and there was no recurrence of the infection. In conclusion, traumatic mucormycosis is a rare but potentially life-threatening fungal infection. Early diagnosis and surgical excision are essential regarding the management of this critical condition. Knowing the underlying diseases is preferable to early diagnosis and timely initiation of antifungal therapy in order to improve survival rates.

Fulminant mucormycosis of maxillary sinuses after dental extraction inpatients with uncontrolled diabetic: Two case reports

Mucormycosis is a rare but fulminant opportunistic fungal infection, which occurs most often in diabetic and immunocompromised patients. Dental extractions may create a portal of entry for the fungal infection. The mucormycosis may be the original cause of the pain and can be misdiagnosed as dental pain. In this paper, two cases of mucormycosis are reported after dental extractions and successfully treated with amphotericin B (case #1) and combined with posaconazole (case #2). The two cases we describe exemplify the fulminant mucormycosis of maxillary sinuses after dental extraction inpatients with uncontrolled diabetic support the findings that this predisposing condition created a suitable environment for the Mucorales growth. These case reports emphasize early recognition and urgent treatment of mucormycosis is necessary to prevent the spread of infection Therefore, dental surgeons and healthcare practitioners should become familiar with mucormycosis.

Extensive Oral Mucormycosis in a Transplanted Patient

Mucormycosis is an invasive fungal disease caused by fungi from the Mucorales order that are found in the soil and decaying organic debris. Mucormycosis has been reported to be the third most common fungal disease in stem cell transplanted patients. The fungi have a tendency for vascular invasion, resulting in thrombi development, which decreases blood supply and leads to extensive tissue necrosis. Here, the authors present a patient of mucormycosis affecting the soft palate, oropharynx, and hypopharynx in a type II diabetic male patient who underwent allogeneic stem cell transplantation, and the authors further review the literature on oral mucormycosis for the last 10 years.

Primary Oral Mucormycosis Due to Rhizopus microsporus after Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation

We herein report a rare case of oral mucormycosis following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Oral mucormycosis due to Rhizopus microsporus manifested as localized left buccal mucositis with a 1-cm black focus before neutrophil recovery. Combination therapy with liposomal amphotericin B was initiated and surgical debridement was performed; however, the patient died due to progressive generalized mucormycosis. Considerable attention needs to be paid to the diagnosis and management of oral mucormycosis in post-transplant patients, thereby suggesting the importance of fully understanding the risk factors.