Bowel infarct with mucormycosis of the intestine

Abstract

Gastrointestinal mucormycosis is a relatively uncommon opportunistic fungal infection. The classical presentation is that of a rhino-cerebral infection. It is a life threatening, angio-invasive condition typically affecting immunocompromised individuals. Only a handful cases of intestinal mucormycosis have been reported to date. Here, we discuss our experience regarding an adult male patient who succumbed to bowel infarction and perforation with septic shock due to intestinal mucormycosis.

Illicit Drug Use a Risk Factor for Ileal Mucormycosis Presenting With Acute Abdomen

“…The symptoms of gastrointestinal mucormycosis are non-specific pain abdomen, abdomen distension, nausea, vomiting, fever, haematochezia or perforation leading to peritonitis [ 2 , 4 ]. Mucormycosis is angioinvasive leading to bowel ischemia, necrosis, perforation, peritonitis or massive hemorrhage in gastrointestinal system [ 8 ]. The diagnosis is often delayed due to non-specific presentation and only 25% of cases are diagnosed ante mortemand has high mortality rate up to 85% hence requires high index of suspicious and early biopsy [ 1 , 4 ].…”