Retrospective evaluation of mucormycosis cases at Bursa Uludag University between 2000-2020

Mucormycosis is an angioinvasive infection caused by fungi of the order Mucorales, which has increased in recent years. Among invasive mycoses, it is the most common fungal infection after Candidiasis and Aspergillosis, and its mortality is high. It has different clinical forms according to it's anatomical localization. It may originate from the paranasal sinus, lung, skin, kidney, gastrointestinal tract, and disseminate to all organs. Over the years, there has been an increase in the number of mycormycosis cases due to the increase in immunosuppressive cases. While the most common predisposing factor in developing countries is still uncontrolled diabetes mellitus (DM), immunosuppressive conditions are the most common predisposing factor in developed countries. When the diagnosis of mucormycosis is suspected due to the underlying diseases and clinical findings combined, the diagnosis should be supported with proper sampling and radiological findings as soon as possible. In treatment, it is recommended to perform extensive debridement, to start liposomal amphotericin B (L-AmB) 5-10 mg/kg/day, and to follow up the patient in terms of repetitive surgery and antifungal modification with periodic evaluations. Although mortality rates vary according to the underlying disease and clinical form, it has been reported to be between 40% and 80%. In this study, it was aimed to examine local epidemiological data, predisposing factors, diagnosis and treatment options, and survival in our center. In our study, 86 adult patients who were followed up with the diagnosis of mucormycosis at Bursa Uludağ University Faculty of Medicine between 2000 and 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. 39 (45.35%) of the cases were male and 47 (54.65%) were female. Their ages ranged from 20 to 86 years, with a mean age of 51 ± 15. Sinus involvement was most common involvement with 77 (89.53%) cases: 38 (44.19%) sinonasal, 5 (5.81%) sinoorbital, 9 (10.47%) rhinocerebral and 25 (29.07%) rhinoorbitocerebral mucormycosis. The remaining 9 (10.47%) cases were pulmonary mucormycosis. There was at least one predisposing factor in all cases: hematological disease in 51 (55.30%), DM in 33 (38.37%), solid organ transplantation in 7 (8.14%), and solid organ malignancy in 7 (8.14%) cases was observed. The most common symptoms were fever (70.93%), swelling around the eyes and face (51.16%), pain (40.7%), redness (34.88%), runny nose (30.23%) and headache (25.58%). In the physical examination, necrotic lesions in the mouth and sinuses (87.21%), ophthalmoplegia (29.07%), ptosis (26.74%), vision loss (25.58% and proptosis (22.09%) were found most frequently. In the initial treatment in all cases, amphotericin B forms (amphotericin B deoxycholate (AmB-D), amphotericin b lipid complex (ABLC), L-AmB) were preferred. Posaconazole (POS) was added to 13 of 14 cases and itraconazole (ITC) was added to 1 of 14 patients who were combined with L-AmB. POS was used in 14 patients who received maintenance therapy. The mean duration of amphotericin B treatment was 59.27 ± 58.41 (1 – 318) days, and the mean total antifungal treatment duration was 88.99 ± 126.98 (1 – 632 days). Hypokalemia was the most common side effect in all amphotericin B forms (L-AmB 68.75%, AmB-D 54.84%, ABLC 50%). The most common side effect in patients receiving POS was urea-creatinine elevation at a rate of 12.5%. Surgical intervention was performed at least once in 74.42% of the cases. Mortality rate was 61.63%. Presence of DM, cavernous sinus involvement and need for intensive care were found to be associated with poor prognosis (p=0,016, p=0,039, p=0,001 respectively). Survival was found to be higher in patients who recieved both surgical and medical treatment than those who recieved medical treatment only (p=0,045). Keywords: Mucormycosis, invasive fungal infection, amphotericin b, posaconazole