Mucormycosis in a Tertiary Care Center in South India: A 4-Year Experience

BACKGROUND: Mucormycosis is an emerging fungal infection in both developed and developing countries with different target population. Unusual isolates and unusual clinical presentations have been reported from India in recent times. OBJECTIVES: The present study was done to know the epidemiology, risk factors, diagnostic modalities, and treatment outcome of mucormycosis patients in our hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was carried out over a period of 4 years from October 2015 to October 2019. This is a retrospective observational chart review of patients diagnosed with proven and probable mucormycosis. Information on demography, clinical features, risk factors, laboratory and radiological findings, treatment (including medical and surgical treatment), and outcome was extracted from the records. Primary outcome at 42 days was determined. RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients were diagnosed with mucormycosis based on microbiological and/or histopathological examination (HPE) of the clinical samples. Most commonly affected age-group was between 41 years and 60 years. More number of cases were reported during the months of post rainy season (September to December). A large number of patients (77%) presented with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus. Rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis was the most common presentation followed by cutaneous infection. Antifungal treatment was started in around 80% of the cases. Twenty patients were managed by combined medical and surgical intervention. Eight patients died while the outcome of nine was unknown, as they left the hospital against medical advice and could not be followed up. CONCLUSION: Mucormycosis, an insidious killer, should be an important differential diagnosis in progressive soft tissue infections and deep organ infection. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Priya P, Ganesan V, Rajendran T, Geni VG. Mucormycosis in a Tertiary Care Center in South India: A 4-Year Experience. Indian J Crit Care Med 2020;24(3):168–171.