Clinical patterns of mucormycosis in northwest India

May 16 2018

Shockingly, the prevalence of mucormycosis in India (0.14 cases/1000 population) has previously been estimated to be around 70 times that of the worldwide rate.

A new survey was recently published by Dr Jagdish Chander and colleagues at the Government Medical College Hospital (Chandigarh, northwest India). In total 82 patients over 5 years were diagnosed with mucormycosis, of whom 67% were male, 62% were diabetic, and 15% had recently received an intramuscular injection. Presentation was frequently rhino-orbital-cerebral (45%), cutaneous (30%) or pulmonary (17%). The most frequently-isolated agent was Rhizopus.

Despite antifungal therapy (mainly amphotericin B) being commenced for most patients, mortality rates were high: 25 patients (30%) died and a further 8 (10%) were at high risk because they left the hospital against medical advice.

 

What can I do?

• Nip it in the bud. Tissue invasion and mortality are rapid, so if mucormycosis is suspected then commence antifungal therapy and perform surgical debridement without delay.

• Watch surgical videos on YouTube of mucormycosis debridement by Dr Murali Chand Nallamothu, Dr Ahilasamy Chennai and Prof Dr Balasubramanian.

 

Read the paper: Chander et al (2018) Mucormycosis: Battle with the Deadly Enemy over a Five-Year Period in India. Journal of Fungi 4:46.

Proportions of species isolated in mucormycosis cases in Chander et al (2018)