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 Original Articles |
| Clinical Characteristics of Mucormycosis |
| Hyeong-Cheon Park, June Myung Kim, Eung Kim, Chein Soo Hong |
| Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea |
Vol.26 Num.4 (p349~356)
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Background : Mucormycosis is a highly virulent and rapidly progressive disease with a grave prognosis. It encompasses a distinctive a distinctive group of infections caused by fungi belonging to order Mucorales. These fungi are widespread in nature, subsisting on decaying vegetation and diverse organic materials. The infection occurs almost exclusively in immunocompromised hosts and poses difficult diagnostic challenge to physicians. The aim of the study was to investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with mucormycosis.
Methods : Clinical characteristics of mucormycosis was examined by retrospective review of 15 patients diagnosed as mucormycosis at Severance hospital from March 1986 to June 1993.
Results : 1) Mucormycosis occured most frequently in the 6th decade. 2) Underlying diseases, frequently diabetes mellitus, were usually present. 3) Headache and ocular pain were the most common initial symptoms in rhinocerebral mucormycosis. 4) Ethmoid and maxillary sinuses were the most frequently involved sites. 5) Radical surgery combined with Amphotericin B was the treatment of choice. 6) Mortality rate was 36%(5/14) among those who were followed. Most patients with high mortality rate had underlying disease, especially diabetes and liver cirrhosis.
Conclusion : Mucormycosis is a fatal fungal infection usually arising in immunocompromised patients. Early diagnosis and timely institution of aggressive treatment is sine qua non for patients with mucormycosis.
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Keywords : Mucormycosis, Immunocompromised host infection, Fungal infection |
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