Mucormycosis risk factors

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Syed Hassan A. Kazmi BSc, MD [2]

Overview

While most individuals are exposed to the fungi on a regular basis, those with immune disorders are more prone to an infection. In humans mucormycosis is most prevalent in immunocompromised patients (HIV/AIDS, the elderly, SCID, etc) and patients in acidosis (diabetes, burns), particularly after barrier injury to the skin or mucus membranes, malignancies such as lymphomas and leukemias, renal failure, organ transplant, long term corticosteroid and immunosuppressive therapy, cirrhosis, burns and energy malnutrition. Some 50-75% of patients diagnosed with mucormycosis are estimated to have underlying poorly controlled diabetes mellitus and ketoacidosis.

Risk factors

The following conditions predispose patients to mucormycosis:

• Immunodeficient states:
  • Transplant recepients
  • Diabetes (including diabetic ketoacidosis)
  • AIDS
  • Severe lymphocytopenia
  • Malignancy

• Dialysis patients on Iron chelation therapy (deferoxamine).
• Conatct with contaminated surgical instruments.
• Major trauma
• Iron overload
• Aluminium overload