Early clinical and laboratory diagnosis of invasive pulmonary, extrapulmonary, and disseminated mucormycosis (zygomycosis)

Clin Infect Dis. 2012 Feb:54 Suppl 1:S55-60. doi: 10.1093/cid/cir868.

Abstract

Early diagnosis of invasive mucormycosis is important for timely therapeutic intervention, improved survival, and reduced morbidity. Given the importance of an accurate and rapid diagnosis of invasive mucormycosis to guide the timely initiation of amphotericin B and possible surgical intervention, a coordinated multidisciplinary approach of clinical assessment, diagnostic imaging, and laboratory assessment is necessary. Laboratory assessment for mucormycosis includes the conventional methods of direct examination and culture of tissue, respiratory secretions, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and other fluids. However, because conventional diagnostic tools are limited in their sensitivity, advanced molecular amplification systems, antigen detection assays, proteomic profiles, and metabolite detection may complement existing approaches to improve the rate of early diagnosis of invasive mucormycosis.

MeSH terms

  • Amphotericin B / therapeutic use
  • DNA, Fungal / analysis
  • DNA, Fungal / genetics
  • Diagnostic Imaging / methods
  • Early Diagnosis*
  • Humans
  • Lung Diseases, Fungal / diagnosis*
  • Lung Diseases, Fungal / drug therapy
  • Lung Diseases, Fungal / microbiology
  • Microbiological Techniques / methods
  • Mucorales / genetics
  • Mucorales / growth & development
  • Mucorales / isolation & purification
  • Mucorales / pathogenicity*
  • Mucormycosis / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Mucormycosis / diagnosis*
  • Mucormycosis / drug therapy
  • Mucormycosis / microbiology
  • Risk Factors
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Zygomycosis / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Zygomycosis / diagnosis*
  • Zygomycosis / drug therapy
  • Zygomycosis / microbiology

Substances

  • DNA, Fungal
  • Amphotericin B