Evaluation of patients with zygomycosis

Authors: ONUR KAYA, SEMA ALP ÇAVUŞ, ÖZGE TURHAN, MELTEM IŞIKGÖZ TAŞBAKAN, HÜSNÜ PULLUKÇU, MUSTAFA BÜLENT ERTUĞRUL, ŞEBNEM ŞENOL, ÇİĞDEM BANU ÇETİN, BETİL ÖZHAK BAYSAN, SELDA SAYIN KUTLU, DİLEK YEŞİM METİN, MELTEM AVCI, GÜLŞEN MERMUT, VİLDAN AVKAN OĞUZ, NUR YAPAR

Abstract: Zygomycosis is a severe angioinvasive infection caused by Zygomycetes. We retrospectively investigated 16 cases of zygomycosis. Materials and methods: The data of patients, who had been followed between 2004 and 2010 in 8 tertiary-care teaching hospitals, were reviewed. Demographic characteristics, underlying diseases, and clinical signs and symptoms of the patients, as well as diagnostic methods, data obtained by radiological imaging methods, and the therapies, were recorded. Therapeutic approaches, antifungal agents and duration of use, and the characteristics of the cases were identified. Results: The study included 11 female and 5 male subjects. The most common symptoms and clinical signs were fever (n = 9) and retro-orbital pain (n = 7). Rhinocerebral zygomycosis was the most common form. The mean time elapsed for diagnosis was 14.26 ± 13.96 (range: 2-52) days. Antifungal therapy was given to 15 patients (94%). In addition to antifungal therapy, 12 patients underwent surgical intervention 1 to 4 times. The mean duration of receiving antifungal therapy was 61.4 ± 58.02 (range: 1-180) days. The median duration of treatment was 62.5 (range: 42-180) days in survivors. Conclusion: Zygomycosis is an infectious disease with high mortality despite antifungal therapy and surgical interventions.

Keywords: Zygomycosis, predisposing factors, Zygomycetes

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