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Neonatal gastrointestinal mucormycosis in an asphyxiated premature newborn
M Adnan Oztürk1, Mustafa Ali Akin, Kemal Deniz
1Division of Neonatology, Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine, Kayseri, Turkey.
Abstract:
Mucormycosis of the intestine is a rare fungal infection of childhood and is mostly encountered in neonates. It is a potentially lethal opportunistic fungal infection with rapid progression and high mortality in immunocompromised patients. The number of reported cases with intestinal mucormycosis is 19 to date. We herein report an asphyxiated preterm infant with intestinal mucormycosis who was presented with an atypical necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), with findings similar to an intraabdominal mass. The diagnosis was made in the postmortem examination of the surgically removed bowel segment. Prematurity and asphyxia are important risk factors for mucormycosis. We suggest that the diagnosis of gastrointestinal mucormycosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of atypical NEC cases.
Insights
Intestinal mucormycosis is a rare, lethal fungal infection in infants. This case highlights asphyxia and prematurity as risk factors, suggesting consideration in atypical necrotizing enterocolitis cases.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Intestinal mucormycosis is a rare, life-threatening opportunistic fungal infection, primarily affecting neonates and immunocompromised individuals.
- Reported cases of intestinal mucormycosis are extremely limited, with only 19 documented instances prior to this report.
- The infection is characterized by rapid progression and carries a high mortality rate.
Observation:
- This report details a case of intestinal mucormycosis in an asphyxiated preterm infant.
- The infant presented with clinical and radiological findings mimicking atypical necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), including an apparent intraabdominal mass.
- Diagnosis was confirmed postmortem via examination of a surgically removed bowel segment.
Findings:
- Prematurity and perinatal asphyxia were identified as significant risk factors contributing to the development of mucormycosis in this infant.
- The clinical presentation mimicked necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), posing a diagnostic challenge.
- Postmortem analysis confirmed intestinal mucormycosis as the cause of death.
Implications:
- The findings suggest that intestinal mucormycosis should be included in the differential diagnosis for neonates presenting with atypical necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).
- Early consideration of this rare fungal infection in at-risk infants may improve diagnostic accuracy.
- This case underscores the importance of recognizing risk factors like prematurity and asphyxia in the context of gastrointestinal fungal infections.
