RHINOCEREBRAL MUCORMYCOSIS

Course overview

RHINOCEREBRAL MUCORMYCOSIS, ALSO CALLED ZYGOMYCOSIS, IS A RARE DISEASE CAUSED BY FILAMENTOUS FUNGI INVOLVING THE NOSE, PARANASAL SINUSES, AND BRAIN. IT IS AN OPPORTUNISTIC PATHOGEN COMMONLY FOUND IN IMMUNOCOMPROMISED INDIVIDUALS. COMMONLY ASSOCIATED DISEASES INCLUDE DIABETIC KETOACIDOSIS, SEVERE BURNS, STEROID THERAPY, SOLID ORGAN TRANSPLANTATION, PROLONGED CORTICOSTEROID THERAPY, HEMOCHROMATOSIS, PATIENTS WITH HIV, NEUTROPENIA, MALNUTRITION, HEMATOLOGIC MALIGNANCIES, ETC. BUT THE ABSENCE OF PREDISPOSING FACTORS DOES NOT EXCLUDE MUCORMYCOSIS. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN DIAGNOSING, EVALUATING, AND MANAGING THE PATIENTS WITH THIS CONDITION.