Diagnosis is by biopsy and culture, with medical imaging to help determine the extent of disease. It may appear similar to aspergillosis. Treatment is generally with amphotericin B and surgical debridement. Preventive measures include wearing a face mask in dusty areas, avoiding contact with water-damaged buildings, and protecting the skin from exposure to soil such as when gardening or certain outdoor work. It tends to progress rapidly and is fatal in about half of sinus cases and almost all cases of the widespread type.
Mucormycosis is usually rare, affecting fewer than 2 people per million people each year in San Francisco, but is now 80 times more common in India. People of any age may be affected, including premature infants. The first known case of mucormycosis was possibly one described by Friedrich Küchenmeister in 1855. The disease has been reported in natural disasters; 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the 2011 Missouri tornado. During the COVID-19 pandemic, an association between mucormycosis and COVID-19 has been reported. This association is thought to relate to reduced immune function during the course of the illness and may also be related to glucocorticoid therapy for COVID-19. A rise in cases was particularly noted in India.
Diagnosis is by biopsy and culture, with medical imaging to
help
determine the extent of disease. It may appear similar to
aspergillosis
. Treatment is
generally
with
amphotericin
B and surgical debridement. Preventive measures include wearing a face mask in dusty areas, avoiding contact with water-damaged buildings, and protecting the skin from exposure to soil such as when gardening or certain outdoor work. It tends to progress
rapidly
and is fatal in about half of sinus cases and almost all cases of the widespread type.
Mucormycosis
is
usually
rare, affecting fewer than 2
people
per million
people
each year in San Francisco,
but
is
now
80 times more common in India.
People
of any age may be
affected
, including premature infants. The
first
known case of
mucormycosis
was
possibly
one
described
by Friedrich
Küchenmeister
in 1855. The disease has
been reported
in natural disasters; 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the 2011 Missouri tornado. During the COVID-19 pandemic, an association between
mucormycosis
and COVID-19 has
been reported
. This association is
thought
to relate to
reduced
immune function during the course of the illness and may
also
be related
to
glucocorticoid
therapy for COVID-19. A rise in cases was
particularly
noted in India.