Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 27, 2026

A Catheter-Related Candida albicans Infection Model in Mouse
03:24

A Catheter-Related Candida albicans Infection Model in Mouse

Published on: March 22, 2024

Dacryocystitis: an unusual form of Mucorales infection

Ahmad Halawa1, George Yacoub, Muhanad Al Hassan

  • 1James H. Quillen Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Mountain Home, TN 37684-4000, USA.

The Journal of the Kentucky Medical Association
|December 9, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Mucormycosis, a severe fungal infection, can affect the lacrimal sac, particularly in immunocompromised individuals like diabetics. Early diagnosis and combined treatment of surgical debridement and antifungal therapy are crucial for successful outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Mucormycosis is a rare but life-threatening fungal infection, predominantly affecting immunocompromised patients.
  • Risk factors include uncontrolled diabetes mellitus and ketoacidosis, which can predispose individuals to invasive fungal infections.
  • Ocular and orbital manifestations of mucormycosis, while uncommon, require prompt recognition and management.

Observation:

  • A case of a diabetic patient presenting with ketoacidosis and isolated lacrimal sac mucormycosis is described.
  • This represents the second reported instance of dacryocystitis caused by mucormycosis in medical literature.
  • Notably, the patient exhibited no concurrent sinus or orbital tissue involvement.

Findings:

  • The diagnosis was confirmed through microbiological and histopathological examination of the affected lacrimal sac.
  • Treatment involved a combination of aggressive surgical debridement of infected tissue and systemic antifungal medication.
  • The patient demonstrated a complete recovery without recurrence of the fungal infection.

Implications:

  • This case highlights the importance of considering mucormycosis in the differential diagnosis of lacrimal sac infections, especially in diabetic patients with ketoacidosis.
  • Isolated lacrimal sac mucormycosis, though rare, can occur without contiguous spread to sinuses or orbits.
  • Multimodal treatment including surgery and antifungals is effective for managing this severe infection.

More Related Videos

Curcuminoid-Mediated Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy on a Murine Model of Oral Candidiasis06:39

Curcuminoid-Mediated Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy on a Murine Model of Oral Candidiasis

Published on: October 27, 2023

Conjunctival Commensal Isolation and Identification in Mice07:52

Conjunctival Commensal Isolation and Identification in Mice

Published on: May 1, 2021

Related Concept Videos

Cryptococcal Meningitis01:27

Cryptococcal Meningitis

Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening opportunistic infection predominantly associated with HIV/AIDS, accounting for over 100,000 deaths annually worldwide. However, it also affects individuals with other forms of immunosuppression, including those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, organ transplant recipients, patients with innate immunodeficiencies, and individuals with hematological disorders. The infection is caused mainly by Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii,...
Candidiasis01:20

Candidiasis

Candidiasis is a fungal infection caused by opportunistic species of Candida. It can affect various anatomical sites, including the skin, oral cavity, nails, and genitourinary tract. Among its forms, vaginal candidiasis is the most common type of mucosal infection. It typically results from the overgrowth of Candida albicans in the vaginal mucosa. Under normal conditions, C. albicans exists as a commensal organism within the vaginal microbiota, regulated by the dominance of lactobacilli, which...
Fungal Phylum Microsporidia01:28

Fungal Phylum Microsporidia

Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular fungi that were initially classified as protists but were later reclassified based on phylogenetic, molecular, and structural evidence linking them to the Chytridiomycota. These unicellular, non-motile organisms are highly specialized parasites that infect a wide range of animal hosts, including humans. They have evolved extensive genomic and metabolic reductions, making them highly dependent on their hosts for survival.Morphology and Genomic...
Atypical Pneumonia01:14

Atypical Pneumonia

Atypical pneumonia, often caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, is a form of pulmonary infection that differs from the classical presentation of bacterial pneumonia in both its cause and clinical symptoms. Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a pleomorphic bacterium notable for its lack of a rigid cell wall. This structural characteristic imparts resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and significantly influences the bacterium’s behavior within the human host.Other pathogens responsible for the disease include...
Cytomegalovirus Disease01:27

Cytomegalovirus Disease

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease is caused by human cytomegalovirus, a double-stranded DNA virus of the Herpesviridae family. While primary CMV infection is often asymptomatic in immunocompetent individuals, the virus can cause severe disease in neonates and immunocompromised patients. CMV is the most common cause of congenital viral infection in the United States, and a major pathogen in solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.CMV is transmitted via bodily fluids, sexual...
Skin Diseases and Disorders01:23

Skin Diseases and Disorders

Skin is the first line of defense and encounters a variety of microbes. Some pathogenic strains are often the cause of a broad range of infections of the skin and other body systems. These conditions can affect people of all ages and may have different causes, including genetic factors, infections, autoimmune reactions, environmental factors, and lifestyle choices.
Gram-positive Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. are responsible for many of the most common skin infections. However, many...