RHINOCEREBRAL MUCORMYCOSIS CAUSED BY APOPHYSOMYCES ELEGANS

Mucormycosis is an uncommon fungal disease and one of the most fulmina nt infections known. This is the second report of rhinocerebral mucorm ycosis caused by Apophysomyces elegans, a newly recognized genus and s pecies classified in the family Mucoraceae. The patient was a 54-year- old man being treated for a severe sinus infection with antibiotics an d ol al steroids. Recovery occurred in our patient after prompt surgic al debridement and drainage of his maxillary sinuses. This case fits t he reported characteristics of other A. elegans infections including w arm climate, intimate contact with the soil, and an incubation period measured in days. Several reported cases indicate A. elegans can cause mucormycosis in immunocompetent individuals with no underlying medica l problems.