Mucormycoses

Over recent years the clinical importance of mucormycosis has significantly increased. Most frequently mucormycosis occurs in neutropenic patients wit h haematological diseases. It is caused by fungi of the order Mucorales. Th e clinical patterns of the disease produced by different genera or species of Mucorales are virtually identical. Rhizopus, Absidia, Rhizomucor and Muc or are the organisms most commonly isolated from patients who suffer from m ucormycosis. Diagnosis of mucormycosis is difficult as it is based on cultu re methods or microscopy of clinical specimens. The diagnosis is often only made after a delay or even postmortem. Therapy includes surgical intervent ion if possible and is based on systemic amphotericin B (conventional or li posomal).