Mucormycosis is a life-threatening invasive fungal infection that arises among immunocompromised patients (haematological malignancies, solid organ transplantation, diabetes mellitus). The most frequent sites of infection are pulmonary, rhinocerebral, cutaneous and disseminated. Reversal of the underlying conditions is mandatory for controlling mucormycosis. Another cornerstone of mucormycosis treatment is prompt and aggressive surgery. It is achieved by extensive surgical debridement of necrotic tissues. Finally an antifungal therapy is needed. The first-line chemotherapy of mucormycosis includes high-dose liposomal amphotericin B (≥ 5 mg/kg/day). The duration of antifungal chemotherapy is not defined but guided by the resolution of all associated symptoms and findings (usually 6-8 weeks). Maintenance therapy/secondary prophylaxis by posaconazole has to be considered in persistently immuno compromised patients.
© 2013 médecine/sciences – Inserm / SRMS.