Invasive Gastrointestinal Mucormycosis Presenting as Pneumonia

Abstract

Mucormycosis (zygomycosis) is a mould infection caused by a group of ubiquitous fungi (Mucorales). Rhizopus oryzae is the most common cause of mucormycosis1. The risk factors for the development of invasive mucormycosis are diabetes mellitus, particularly with ketoacidosis, corticosteroid use, neutropenic states in organ/stem cell transplantation or hematologic malignancies, malnourished states in renal failure, low birth infants, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and states of iron overload or treatment with desferoxamine. Nosocomial outbreaks may occur by transmission through contaminated bandages, tongue depressors and intravenous catheters1.