Intestinal mucormycosis in an adult with H1N1 pneumonia on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Abstract

Gastrointestinal mucormycosis involving ileum is a very rare phenomenon. We present a case of 52-year-old male, known case of diabetes mellitus requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for H1N1 pneumonia with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The patient had small bowel obstruction with impending perforation requiring emergency bowel resection and ileostomy. The resected bowel segment histopathology showed mucormycosis. He was treated with conventional Amphotericin-B and later changed to Posaconazole. The patient responded very well and was gradually weaned from ventilator and successfully discharged home. This case report highlights rare site of mucormycosis. Early diagnosis and timely intervention can reduce mortality.

Successful treatment of pulmonary mucormycosis (Lichtheimia spp.) in a post-partum patient with COVID-19 ARDS requiring extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation using salvage therapy

“…While fungal infections in the ICU are not uncommon, in the ECMO population, Mucorales as a cause of infection is rarely reported. 8 Our literature search showed only 4 cases of mucormycosis on ECMO (renal, 9 intestinal, 10 cutaneous, 11 and disseminated 12 ).…”