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).