Abstract

CERMENO V, Julmery J; CERMENO, Julman R  and  MUJICA R, Mario. Zygomycosis at the “Ruiz y Paez” University Hospital Complex, Ciudad Bolivar, during the 1984-2007 period. Rev. Soc. Ven. Microbiol. [online]. 2008, vol.28, n.1, pp.20-23. ISSN 1315-2556.

Zygomycosis is a serious infection in immunocompromised patients. The purpose of this study was to present the zygomycosis cases registered during a 23 year period at the reference hospital in Bolivar State. A retrospective analysis of all the clinical case histories was done at the mentioned hospital in Bolivar State. All patients who were diagnosed with zygomycosis through a biopsy between January 1984 and January 2007 were included in the study. Six patients were identified with zygomycosis. All cases had diabetes mellitus as predisposing factor. Three cases corresponded to the rinosinusidal form, one of which had a cerebral complication, and the other 3 presented cutaneous compromise. There were 2 deaths. Aggressive treatment of the locally invasive disease is important to prevent a fast and fatal dissemination of this mycosis. Patients with uncompensated diabetes mellitus are under risk of developing it.

Keywords : Immunocompromised patients; mucormycosis; prevalence; zygomycosis.