Rhinoorbital mucormycosis in the immunocompetent: Experience with Isavuconazole

Mucormycosis is a severe opportunistic fungal infection caused by Mucorales. The majority of the affected patients have a history of immunosuppression, with a reported incidence of 4–19% in the immunocompetent. Early recognition and diagnosis, combined with surgical debridement and appropriate antifungal therapy are essential to achieve a cure. In this article we report the case of a 61-year-old immunocompetent male who complained with pain in his right eye. After being first diagnosed with conjunctivitis and treated accordingly, he eventually needed surgical debridement and the biopsy showed the presence of fungi of the class Zygomycetes. He was submitted to intravenous therapy with Liposomal Amphotericin B (LAmB) and Posaconazole for several days, which was then changed to Isavuconazole due to bicytopenia. He also received treatment with hyperbaric oxygen, achieving altogether good results. He was discharged after eight months, still on oral Isavuconazole 200mg/day and re-evaluated after three and six months, showing no evidence of progression of the infection.