MUCROMYCOSIS STATISTICS
HOW COMMON IS MUCROMYCOSIS?
Mucormycosis is rare, but the exact number of cases is difficult to determine because no national surveillance exists in the United States. Population-based incidence estimates for mucormycosis were obtained from laboratory surveillance in the San Francisco Bay Area during 1992–1993 and suggested a yearly rate of 1.7 cases per 1 million population. 1
Prospective surveillance among 16,808 transplant recipients performed in 23 institutions during 2001–2006 found that mucormycosis was the third most common type of invasive fungal infection in stem cell transplant recipients and accounted for 8% of all invasive fungal infections (77 mucormycete cases occurred among 983 stem cell transplant recipients who developed any fungal infection). 2,3 Among solid organ transplant recipients, mucormycosis accounted for 2% of all invasive fungal infections (28 mucormycete cases occurred among 1,208 solid organ transplant recipients who developed any fungal infection). 3,4 The number of cases varied widely across participating institutions.
MUCROMYCOSIS OUTBREAK
Healthcare providers who are concerned about an unusual number of new cases should contact their state or local public health agency.
Although most cases of mucormycosis are sporadic (not part of an outbreak), outbreaks of mucormycosis have occurred. In healthcare settings, it can be difficult to determine whether mucormycosis is healthcare-associated or whether the infections were acquired somewhere else. Some examples of sources implicated in healthcare-associated mucormycosis outbreaks include adhesive bandages, wooden tongue depressors, hospital linens, negative pressure rooms, water leaks, poor air filtration, non-sterile medical devices, and building construction. Community-onset outbreaks have been associated with trauma sustained during natural disasters.
DEATHS DUE TO MUCROMYCOSIS
Mucormycosis is frequently a life-threatening infection. A review of published mucormycosis cases found an overall all-cause mortality rate of 54%. The mortality rate varied depending on underlying patient condition, type of fungus, and body site affected (for example, the mortality rate was 46% among people with sinus infections, 76% for pulmonary infections, and 96% for disseminated mucormycosis).