Mucormycosis: Identify Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment of Black Fungus

Abstract

Mucormycoses are devastating fungal infections that mainly afflict immunosuppressed patients. The infection is caused by fungi of the order Mucorales. Treatment of mucormycosis is reliant on reversal of underlying predisposing factors, surgical debridement of infected tissues and appropriate antifungal therapy. Rapid and reliable diagnostic methods are lacking and current diagnosis is dependent on culture and histopathological examination. Recent major advances in gene manipulation and genomics have produced several promising targets for novel therapeutic interventions. We discuss the disease, its current management, the recent advances in molecular pathogenesis, diagnostics and potential new modalities of treatment.