Mucormycosis

[Jason Yan]

Mucormycosis is infection caused by any of several related molds.

Mucormycosis is acquired when spores produced by the mold are inhaled or, much less commonly, when they enter the body through a cut or other break in the skin.
The infection causes pain, fever, and sometimes cough and can destroy structures in the face.
Doctors diagnose the infection by identifying the fungus in tissue samples.
Most people are given high doses of amphotericin B intravenously, and surgery is done to remove infected and dead tissue.

(See also Overview of Fungal Infections.)
Many different species of fungi can cause mucormycosis. They belong to a large group of molds called Mucorales. These molds include Rhizopus, Rhizomucor, and Mucor. Each species causes similar symptoms.
These molds are common in the environment and include many common bread molds. People probably breathe in the spores of these molds all the time. However, these molds usually do not cause infection. Mucormycosis typically occurs when one of the following is present:

Diabetes is not controlled well.
The immune system is weakened by drugs (such as corticosteroids or drugs that suppress the immune system—see Table: Risk Factors for Developing Fungal Infections) or by leukemia or other disorders that decrease the number of white blood cells in the blood.
Deferoxamine is used to treat iron overload.

Mucormycosis can be caused by

Inhaling spores produced by the molds (the most common cause)
Having the mold

[Lanell]

Infection of a human, other mammal, or bird with a zygomycete fungus, especially one of the family Mucoraceae; an instance of this.