MUCORMYCOSIS: AN OVERVIEW

Mucormycosis is termed as an angio-invasive fungal infection, connected with high morbidity and mortality. An alteration in the epidemiology of mucormycosis has been discovered in recent years with the rise in frequency, newfound causative agents and susceptible population. The rise has been perceived globally, but it is very advanced in the Asian continent. Though diabetes mellitus surpass all other risk factors in Asia. Post-tuberculosis and chronic renal failure have appeared as a new risk groups. The rhino cerebral mucormycosis is most usually seen in patients with diabetes mellitus. Although considered to be a infrequent infection, mucormycosis (zygomycosis) has emerged as the second most common invasive mould infection. Despite the advent of newer fungicidal agents, mortality rate of mucormycosis resides exceedingly higher. Successful direction of mucormycosis requires early identification, reversal of underlying predisposing risk number, surgical debridement and prompt administration of active antifungal agents. However, mucormycosis is not always amenable to cure. There are challenging obstacles that lead to exertion in management of Amphotericin B. These include unique host-based risk factors for mucormycosis, the fungus’ resistance to innate hostdefences and distinctive features of its immunopathogenesis, such as extensive angioinvasion, increased virulence and use of chelators by the fungus as siderophores.