Abstract
Mucormycosis is an angio-invasive fungal infection, associated with high morbidity and mortality. A change in the epidemiology of mucormycosis has been observed in recent years with the rise in incidence, new causative agents and susceptible population. The rise has been perceived globally, but it is very high in the Asian continent. Though diabetes mellitus overshadow all other risk factors in Asia, post-tuberculosis and chronic renal failure have emerged as new risk groups. The rhino-cerebral form of mucormycosis is most commonly seen in patients with diabetes mellitus, whereas, pulmonary mucormycosis in patients with haematological malignancy and transplant recipients. In immunocompetent hosts, cutaneous mucormycosis is commonly seen following trauma. The intriguing clinical entity, isolated renal mucormycosis in immunocompetent patients is only reported from China and India. A new clinical entity, indolent mucormycosis in nasal sinuses, is recently recognized. The causative agents of mucormycosis vary across different geographic locations. Though Rhizopus arrhizus is the most common agent isolated worldwide, Apophysomyces variabilis is predominant in Asia and Lichtheimia species in Europe. The new causative agents, Rhizopus homothallicus, Mucor irregularis, and Thamnostylum lucknowense are reported from Asia. In conclusion, with the change in epidemiology of mucormycosis country-wise studies are warranted to estimate disease burden in different risk groups, analyse the clinical disease pattern and identify the new etiological agents.
Highlights
Mucormycosis is caused by the fungi belonging to the order Mucorales
Indianumber reported as diabetes a risk factor over 50% cases with mucormycosis
The exact burden The of mucormycosis is not known, as it is countries, not a reportable and rare in is sub-optimal in this region
Summary
Mucormycosis is caused by the fungi belonging to the order Mucorales. Humans acquire the infection predominantly by inhalation of sporangiospores, occasionally by ingestion of contaminated food or traumatic inoculation [1,2]. Eleven genera and ~27 species under Mucorales are associated with human infections. The infection is increasingly reported in patients with diabetes mellitus, haematological malignancy, solid organ transplants, and corticosteroid therapy [5,6,7,8,9]. A difference in the prevalence of risk factors/underlying disease and causative agents of mucormycosis have been reported between the western world and. Diabetes mellitus is the most common risk factor in the Asian continent, whereas haematological malignancies and transplantation are the major risk factors in European countries and the United States [10,11]. The present review discusses the global incidence of mucormycosis with the change in the epidemiological features including causative agents, risk factors or underlying disease
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
