Zygomycosis epidemiology and demographics
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Zygomycosis is a very rare infection, and as such it is hard to note histories of patients and incidence of the infection. However, one American oncology center revealed that zygomycosis was found in 0.7% of autopsies and roughly 20 patients per every 100,000 admissions to that center. In the United States, zygomycosis was most commonly found in the form of Rhinocerebral disease. In most cases the patient is immunocompromised, although rare cases have occurred in which the subject was not immunocompromised, most often due to a traumatic inoculation of fungal spores. Internationally, zygomycosis was found in 1% of patients with acute leukemia in an Italian review.
Outbreaks
Outbreaks and clusters of mucormycosis are rare but when they do occur they are often serious. In hospitals, mucormycosis outbreaks of skin and soft tissue infection have been linked to contact with contaminated objects, such as tongue depressors. Additionally, clusters of mucormycosis have occurred in association with organ transplantation. The most recent investigation was in response to an outbreak of mucormycosis among victims of the Joplin, Missouri tornado in May 2011.
Information about Mucormycosis following the Joplin, Missouri Tornado
CDC is assisting the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (MDHSS) with an investigation into a number of reports of fungal skin infection in people who were injured by the tornado that struck Joplin in May 2011. People who had trauma that resulted in an open wound that is not healing or are experiencing continued symptoms, such as worsening redness, tenderness, pain, heat in the area of the wound, or fever, should see a health care provider for evaluation.[1]
References
- ↑ "CDC - Diagnosis & Testing of Mucormycosis - Mucormycosis". Retrieved 22 November 2013.