Diverse Clinical Manifestations and Challenges of Mucormycosis: Insights From Serial Cases
Marisa C. Nielsen, Filipe M. Cerqueira, Sri Bharathi Kavuri, Caitlin M Raymond, Aeman Muneeb, Andrzej Kudlicki, Shafaq Tariq, Mingru Liu, Andrew Routh, Suimin Qiu, Ping Ren
Abstract
Abstract Mucormycosis is a severe and potentially life-threatening infection caused by a group of fungi classified as mucormycetes within the scientific order Mucorales. These infections are characterized by rapid and invasive fungal growth, presenting significant treatment challenges. Here we present 5 cases encountered from 2018 to 2022 at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas, including a novel Apophysomyces species. These cases illustrate the diverse clinical manifestations of mucormycosis, including pulmonary, rhino-cerebral, gastrointestinal, and soft tissue involvement. Our investigation incorporates information provided by a multidisciplinary team of clinical collaborators, emphasizing the findings from radiology, histopathology, and microbiology. Given the escalating global incidence of mucormycosis, it is crucial for clinicians to become familiar with associated clinical findings, comorbidities, and risk factors to facilitate prompt recognition, appropriate diagnostic testing, and timely initiation of treatment.