We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
INTEGRA BIOSCIENCES AG

BIO-RAD LABORATORIES

Provides full range of instrumentation, reagent kits, software and quality control systems to clinical laboratories. ... read more Featured Products: More products

Download Mobile App




Microbiological Features of Mucormycosis Determined in Critically Ill Patients

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 08 Sep 2021
Mucormycosis is a rare invasive fungal infection with high mortality in patients with severe underlying predisposing factors causing immunosuppression. More...
The exact incidence of mucormycosis and the optimal therapeutic approach is difficult to determine, especially in severe cases, due to the rarity of the disease.

The causative pathogens are fungi of the order Mucorales, mainly Rhizopus spp., Mucor spp. and Lichtheimia spp., which are typically found on decaying organic material and soils. There are three ways humans can contract mucormycosis, by inhaling spores, by swallowing spores in food or medicines, or when spores contaminate wounds.

Medical Microbiologists at the Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine (Munich, Germany) conducted a retrospective analysis between February 2016 and February 2019. Patients were identified using the HyBase analysis system (epiNet AG, Bochum, Germany) and inclusion criteria were positive laboratory culture for Mucorales with consistent clinical presentation, intensive care treatment, and age >18 years. Proven mucormycosis was based on histopathological findings. Pulmonary mucormycosis was classified as probable as the diagnosis was mainly based on bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) when patients did not undergo surgery.

All samples were collected using aseptic techniques. Primary microbiological cultures were performed on Columbia agar, Schaedler agar, chocolate agar (prepared culture media, Becton Dickinson, Sparks, MD, USA) and thioglycolate broth (Oxoid Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA). Colonies of Mucorales were subcultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar for macroscopic, microscopic and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (Bruker Daltronics GmbH, Leipzig, Germany) species identification. Molecular species identification via 28s rDNA polymerase chain reaction and sequencing was performed. Galactomannan detection (Platelia Aspergillus Ag, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Munich, Germany) was performed using BAL and serum samples.

The investigators reported that they had found 15 critically ill patients with Mucorales detected between 2016 and 2019 and the crude mortality rate was 100%. At the time of diagnosis of mucormycosis, 80% of subjects had relevant medical immunosuppression and 53.3% of subjects had neutropenia. Manifestation of mucormycosis was pulmonary in 53.3% of subjects, rhino-orbital in 20% of subjects and disseminated in 26.7% of subjects. Rhizopus microsporus was isolated in nine of 15 (60%) cases, Lichtheimia corymbifera in four of 15 (26.7%) cases and Rhizopus arrhizus in two of 15 (13.3%) cases. Galactomannan antigen testing (serum and BAL) was performed regularly to identify a differential diagnosis or mixed invasive fungal infection (13/15, 86.7%), and yielded positive results for two patients, one of whom also had detectable fungal growth of Aspergillus fumigatus in two consecutive BAL samples.

The authors concluded that for intensive care patients, the prognosis of mucormycosis was extremely poor. An aggressive strategy for diagnosis and treatment is essential for intensive care patients with mucormycosis. It should be noted that during the COVID-19 pandemic in India, the Indian government reported that more than 11,700 people were receiving care for mucormycosis as of 25 May 2021. The study was published on August 1, 2021 in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases.

Related Links:
Technical University of Munich
epiNet AG
Becton Dickinson
Oxoid Thermo Fisher Scientific
Bruker Daltronics
Bio-Rad Laboratories



Platinum Member
ADAMTS-13 Protease Activity Test
ATS-13 Activity Assay
Verification Panels for Assay Development & QC
Seroconversion Panels
Complement 3 (C3) Test
GPP-100 C3 Kit
Gold Member
hCG Whole Blood Pregnancy Test
VEDALAB hCG-CHECK-1
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








Channels

Clinical Chemistry

view channel
Image: QIP-MS could predict and detect myeloma relapse earlier compared to currently used techniques (Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock)

Mass Spectrometry-Based Monitoring Technique to Predict and Identify Early Myeloma Relapse

Myeloma, a type of cancer that affects the bone marrow, is currently incurable, though many patients can live for over 10 years after diagnosis. However, around 1 in 5 individuals with myeloma have a high-risk... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: The cancer stem cell test can accurately choose more effective treatments (Photo courtesy of University of Cincinnati)

Stem Cell Test Predicts Treatment Outcome for Patients with Platinum-Resistant Ovarian Cancer

Epithelial ovarian cancer frequently responds to chemotherapy initially, but eventually, the tumor develops resistance to the therapy, leading to regrowth. This resistance is partially due to the activation... Read more

Technology

view channel
Image: Ziyang Wang and Shengxi Huang have developed a tool that enables precise insights into viral proteins and brain disease markers (Photo courtesy of Jeff Fitlow/Rice University)

Light Signature Algorithm to Enable Faster and More Precise Medical Diagnoses

Every material or molecule interacts with light in a unique way, creating a distinct pattern, much like a fingerprint. Optical spectroscopy, which involves shining a laser on a material and observing how... Read more

Industry

view channel
Image: The collaboration aims to leverage Oxford Nanopore\'s sequencing platform and Cepheid\'s GeneXpert system to advance the field of sequencing for infectious diseases (Photo courtesy of Cepheid)

Cepheid and Oxford Nanopore Technologies Partner on Advancing Automated Sequencing-Based Solutions

Cepheid (Sunnyvale, CA, USA), a leading molecular diagnostics company, and Oxford Nanopore Technologies (Oxford, UK), the company behind a new generation of sequencing-based molecular analysis technologies,... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.