Abstract

ARIAS LEON, Gerson  and  GARZON HERAZO, Javier. Zigomicosis. Infect. [online]. 2010, vol.14, suppl.2, pp.s181-s192. ISSN 0123-9392.

Zygomycosis are severe and uncommon fungal infections caused by ubiquitous fungi members of the class zygomicetes, which are subdivided into two orders: Mucorales and Entomophtorales. Infections due to Mucorales are characterized by a rapid evolution along with a wide tissue destruction and direct invasion of blood vessels. These diseases are seen in individuals with clearly defined risk factors such as quantitative or qualitative neutrophil defects, metabolic acidosis, or elevated iron serum levels. The clinical forms of these diseases are divided into new categories: Rhinocerebral, pulmonary, cutaneous, gastrointestinal, and disseminated infections. The main mechanism of infection is by inhalation, but it is also possible to acquire the infection by direct inoculation into the dermis. The clinical course is aggressive but unspecified and usually threatens patients' survival; therefore, we must have a high index of suspicion in those cases with a suggestive clinical scenario and risk factors in order to perform a timely and aggressive intervention with antifungal therapy and surgery.

Keywords : Zygomycosis; Diagnosis; Physiopatholoy; Therapy.

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