Mucormycosis: a sweet enemy. A case series

Abstract

Mucormycosis is a rare fungal infection caused by fungi of the order Mucorales that occurs in immunocompromised individuals or with loss of the skin or mucosa barrier integrity. This report presents a series of four cases of rhinocerebral mucormycosis presented at a third-level hospital in Cali-Colombia over a three-year period. All patients presented with case histories and time of evolution that differ from one to the other. All had a previous or de novo diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus, with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) > 10% on admission, and other possible pathologies that could explain their condition were ruled out in all patients. The diagnosis was made with direct visualization of hyaline coenocytic hyphae on biopsies. The basis of treatment was liposomal Amphotericin B together with surgical debridement. Two patients presented bacterial coinfection. One asked for voluntary discharge without having completed treatment and another one died. The remaining two have attended controls with adequate evolution.