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Cutaneous Mucormycosis by Saksenaea vasiformis: An Unusual Case Report and Review of Literature

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Abstract

Background

Saksenaea vasiformis is one of the numerous fungi of the Order Mucorales. Rapid progression and invasion of neighboring tissues are the most characteristic features of S. vasiformis mucormycosis.

Aim

The objective of this review is the management of this type of infections.

Methods

Case report and literature review.

Results

A 62-year old woman, without a history of immunocompromisation, developed a localized cutaneous infection at her right thigh. No trauma, skin laceration or insect bite was reported at the side of infection. The initial treatment was surgical debridements and intravenous administration of amphotericin B/posaconazole. In order to avoid the further rapid progression of the infection and save her life, it was decided to proceed to amputation of the patient’s right leg. This is the first case of S. vasiformis cutaneous infection in an immunocompetent patient, in Greece.

Conclusion

Early diagnosis of S. vasiformis mucormycosis is of paramount importance. Clinical suspicion, based on the rapid progression of the infection and on the medical history of the patient, is sufficient to start antifungal treatment. Broad, aggressive, and repeated surgical debridement of the infection site together with systemic antifungal agents administration is the key point for successful treatment.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Dr M. Lelekis and Prof. A. Velegraki for their significant clinical support and advice.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. First Department of General Surgery, General Hospital of Attica “KAT”, 141 Oropou Str., 14232, Athens, Greece

    Ioannis D. Gkegkes, Ioannis Kotrogiannis, Filitsa Konstantara, Athina Karetsou, Eleftherios Fotiou, Sotiria Stamopoulou, Christos Papazacharias & Ioannis A. Paraskevopoulos

  2. Microbiology Department, General Hospital of Attica “KAT”, Athens, Greece

    Sofia Tsiplakou

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  1. Ioannis D. Gkegkes
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  2. Ioannis Kotrogiannis
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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Gkegkes, I.D., Kotrogiannis, I., Konstantara, F. et al. Cutaneous Mucormycosis by Saksenaea vasiformis: An Unusual Case Report and Review of Literature. Mycopathologia 184, 159–167 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-018-0249-6

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