title: Post-traumatic and post-surgical Absidia corymbifera infection in a young, healthy man.
abstract: Absidia corymbifera infection in a healthy individual is rare. Most of the infection occurs in immunocompromised patients or diabetic patients. Cutaneous and subcutaneous mucormycosis have been increasingly reported in the literature as a result of massive trauma with contaminated wounds. We present a case of cutaneous mucormycosis in a healthy, young patient after surgical amputation for a crush injury of the leg. We also highlight the importance of the high index of clinical suspicion in the diagnosis and treatment of this fungal infection in the hype of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection in hospital setting these days. Despite an initial life-saving amputation, it was inadequate to ensure the eradication of A. corymbifera infection. A second amputation was required with parenteral liposomal amphotericin B to achieve a satisfactory cure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, University College Hospital Galway, Ireland. willhct@yahoo.com
authors.forename: William H C
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Tiong
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ismael
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McCann
mesh_terms: D020095:Absidia / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000328:Adult; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D003881:Dermatomycoses / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D009091:Mucormycosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D012086:Reoperation; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery