Fungi involved: Mucor, Rhizopus, Absidia, Rhizomucor (Order Mucorales, Class Zygomycetes)
Risk factors for cutaneous infection:
(1) portal through skin:
(1a) skin maceration
(1b) trauma
(1c) drug injection site
(1d) catheter or tubing placement site
(1e) severe burns
(2) diabetes mellitus
(3) immunocompromised
Potential source of the fungus:
(1) environmental contamination (soil, plant material, etc.)
(2) contaminated surgical wound coverings
(3) contaminated tape used to secure tubing or wound dressings
Complications:
(1) direct extension into adjacent tissues (joint, muscle, bone, etc.)
(2) necrotizing fasciitis
(3) distant fungal infections
Prompt and aggressive therapy while the disease is localized has a good prognosis. Delayed therapy or distant spread is associated with poor prognosis.
