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Primary zygomycosis of the pericardium in an immunocompetent host

Pradeep Vaideeswar1, Shobhana P Pandit

  • 1Department of Pathology (Cardiovascular and Thoracic Division), Seth G. S. Medical College, Parel, Mumbai, India.

Mycoses
|May 3, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Mucorales fungi typically infect immunocompromised individuals. This case details a rare instance of zygomycotic pericarditis and sternal osteomyelitis in an immunocompetent woman, misdiagnosed for a year.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Clinical Case Study

Background:

  • The order Mucorales comprises fungi known for causing severe infections, primarily in immunocompromised patients.
  • These infections, often zygomycosis, frequently affect the respiratory tract and central nervous system, carrying a high mortality rate.
  • Typical hosts include individuals with diabetes mellitus or weakened immune systems.

Observation:

  • This report presents a unique case of primary zygomycotic pericarditis.
  • The infection was concurrently associated with osteomyelitis of the sternum.
  • Notably, the affected individual was immunocompetent, a rare demographic for such infections.

Findings:

  • The clinical presentation mimicked tuberculosis, leading to a diagnostic delay of one year.
  • Fungal pericarditis and sternal osteomyelitis caused by Mucorales in an immunocompetent host is exceptionally rare.
  • The diagnosis was established after a prolonged period of clinical suspicion and investigation.

Implications:

  • This case highlights the importance of considering rare fungal infections even in immunocompetent individuals.
  • It underscores the diagnostic challenges posed by atypical presentations of zygomycosis.
  • The findings suggest a need for broader differential diagnoses in persistent, unexplained infections, particularly in the sternal and pericardial regions.

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