Mucormycosis: A rare entity with rising clinical presentation in immunocompromised hosts

Mucormycosis is a rare, rapidly progressive and a fulminant, life-threatening, opportunistic infection. Although it most commonly manifests in diabetic patients, its presence in other immunologically compromised patients cannot be ruled out. Its etiology is saprophytic fungal organisms, with rhizopus being the most common causative organism. Clinically the disease is marked by a partial loss of neurological function and a progressive necrosis due to the invasion of the organisms into the blood vessels causing a lack of blood supply. The disease may progress to involve the cranium thereby increasing the mortality rate. The first line of management in mucormycosis is antifungal therapy which may extend and also include surgical management.

Authors present here two patients with mucormycosis affecting the maxillofacial region, that were treated by including both medical and surgical lines of management.

This report aims to highlight the importance of prompt diagnosis and urgent management of this potentially fatal phenomenon, particularly among high-risk individuals.

This case report intensifies the importance of considering mucormycosis as a possible diagnosis in spontaneous necrotic soft tissue lesions of the face, especially in an immunocompromised patient.