Mucormycosis historical perspective
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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
Mucormycosis in humans was was first reported in 1885 by a German pathologoist named Paltauf. The disease named “mucormycosis” was subsequently used by an American pathologist R. D. Baker to denote a mycosis caused by some members of Mucorales.
Historical Perspective
- Mucormycosis is considered to be the most fatal fungal infection known to man because it is rapidly disseminated by the blood vessels and has a high rate of mortality.
- The first case of mucormycosis in humans was reported in 1885 by a German pathologist named Paltauf, who published a case of upper airway mucormycosis, entitled: “mucormycosis mucorina” in the Virchows archives of pathology and anatomy.[1]
- Gregory et al described the first case of of rhino-orbital cerebral mucormycosis in 1943 associated with diabetes. Harris in 1955 reported the first known survivor.
- Mucormycosis is certainly seen less than other common fungal infections like candidiasis or aspergillosis. However, its incidence has been increasing recently.
- The disease named “mucormycosis” was subsequently used by an American pathologist R. D. Baker to denote a mycosis caused by some members of Mucorales.
- It has reported that the frequency of mucormycosis has been increasing over the past 14 years in the United States of America; this fungal infection has been identified in up to 6.8% of patients at autopsy.[2]
- Another study confirmed that the incidence of this infection is also on the rise in Europe.[3]
- This rise is partially explained by better diagnostic tools, increased incidence of diabetes mellitus and use of immunosuppressive agents in the modern therapeutic era.[4]
References
- ↑ Bell S, Mahoney L (2000). "Mucormycosis: a case study". Crit Care Nurse. 20 (1): 18–23. PMID 11871522.
- ↑ Brown J (2005). "Zygomycosis: an emerging fungal infection". Am J Health Syst Pharm. 62 (24): 2593–6. doi:10.2146/ajhp050188. PMID 16333056.
- ↑ Lass-Flörl C (2009). "The changing face of epidemiology of invasive fungal disease in Europe". Mycoses. 52 (3): 197–205. PMID 19391253.
- ↑ Saegeman V, Maertens J, Ectors N, Meersseman W, Lagrou K (2010). "Epidemiology of mucormycosis: review of 18 cases in a tertiary care hospital". Med. Mycol. 48 (2): 245–54. doi:10.1080/13693780903059477. PMID 19568978.