risk factors for mucormycosis

Q: Which of the following elemental overdose or even its antidote can be a risk factor for the development of mucormycosis?

A) Magnesium

B) Iron

C) Aluminum

D) Chromium

Answer: B

Iron, as well as its antidote deferoxamine, plays a role in the development of mucormycosis. Other well-known risk factors are

• Diabetes, particularly the ketoacidosis phase
• Steroids
• Hematological malignancies
• Transplantations 
• COVID-19
• AIDS
• Trauma
• Burns
• Malnutrition

Treatment is surgical excision along with antifungal medications.

#ID

References:

1. Roden MM, Zaoutis TE, Buchanan WL, et al. Epidemiology and outcome of zygomycosis: a review of 929 reported cases. Clin Infect Dis 2005; 41:634.

2. Patel A, Kaur H, Xess I, Michael JS, Savio J, Rudramurthy S, Singh R, Shastri P, Umabala P, Sardana R, Kindo A, Capoor MR, Mohan S, Muthu V, Agarwal R, Chakrabarti A. A multicentre observational study on the epidemiology, risk factors, management and outcomes of mucormycosis in India. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2020 Jul;26(7):944.e9-944.e15. doi: 10.1016/j.cmi.2019.11.021. Epub 2019 Dec 4. PMID: 31811914.

3. Reid G, Lynch JP 3rd, Fishbein MC, Clark NM. Mucormycosis. Semin Respir Crit Care Med. 2020 Feb;41(1):99-114. doi: 10.1055/s-0039-3401992. Epub 2020 Jan 30. PMID: 32000287.