A Case of Lung Abscesses Secondary to Mucormycosis in a Diabetic Female Patient

Abstract

Mucormycosis is a rapidly advancing and hazardous form of opportunistic infection usually starts in nose and/or paranasal sinuses after inhaling fungal spores. This infection is caused by Mucorales fungi which belong to the Zygomycetes class. The incidence of Mucormycosis is approximately 1.7 cases in 1 million. They more frequently exist in rhinomaxillary area and is a rare pulmonary disease of an opportunistic fungi, which is difficult to diagnose with an unpredictable response to treatment. They usually appear in individuals with immunocompromised states such as diabetes, long term use of corticosteroids, immunosuppressive therapy for solid organ and hematopoietic cell transplantation, and disorders like neutropenia are notably common risk factors. As a potential for relatively life-threatening condition, the disorders warrant an anticipatory approach.  We report here a case of pulmonary mucormycosis in uncontrolled diabetes presented with bilateral cavitary lesions in lungs that was first misdiagnosed as case of Pulmonary TB, later diagnosis was made on the basis of results of bronchoscopic biopsy, and was started on amphotericin and followed up with improvement of her symptoms.