Zygomycosis risk factors

While most individuals are exposed to the fungi on a regular basis those with immune disorders are more prone to an infection.^[1] In humans zygomycosis is most prevalent in immunocompromised patients (HIV/AIDS, the elderly, SCID, etc) and patients in acidosis (diabetes, burns), particularly after barrier injury to the skin or mucus membranes, malignancies such as lymphomas and leukemias, renal failure, organ transplant, long term corticosteroid and immunosuppressive therapy, cirrhosis, burns and energy malnutrition. Some 50-75% of patients diagnosed with zygomycosis are estimated to have underlying poorly controlled diabetes mellitus and ketoacidosis.

Mucormycosis is a rare infection caused by fungi typically found in the soil and in decaying organic matter, including leaves and rotten wood. The infection is more common among people with weakened immune systems, but it can occur (rarely) in people who are otherwise healthy. Risk factors for developing mucormycosis include:

• Uncontrolled diabetes
• Cancer
• Organ transplant
• Neutropenia (low white blood cells)
• Skin trauma (cuts, scrapes, punctures, or burns)^[2]

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