What Is Microbiology - Zygomycosis

​Zygomycosis

Zygomycosis is a form of fungal infection caused by Absidia, Mucor and Rhizopus species of fungal. 

The biospy specimen may reveal the present of nonseptate (ribbon like) hyphae in the tissue biopsy of the specimen. 

The common mode of transmission is due to inhalation of aerosolized spores. The inhaled spores will germinate in the lungs. This will form into angioinvasive filamentous hyphae which cause hemorrhage, infarction and necrosis of  the  cells. 

The spores present in the food or soils.

Zygomycosis may present with pulmonary zygomycosis, rhinocerebal zygomycosis and cutaneous zygomycosis.  Pulmonary zygomycosis is characterized by pulmonary lesion. 

Cutaneous zygomycosis may present with necrotic skin ulcers. Cutaneous zygomycosis and pulmonary zygomycosis commonly affecting the debilitating and immunocompromised individuals such as (organ transplanted patient or burn patient). 

Patient with diabetes may infected with rhinocerebral zygomycosis which present in the paranasal sinus which spread into the hard palate, orbit and brian. 


The treatment of zygomycosis may include amphotericin B and surgical debridement.