Post-traumatic fatal disseminated Apophysomyces elegans infection

Abstract

Mucorales infections typically occur in immunocompromised hosts. We describe a case of disseminated post-traumatic Apophysomyces elegans in an immunocompetent patient status-post soil inoculation. Fungi introduced at a deep arm laceration leads to neurovascular invasion and dissemination prior to amputation and systemic treatment. We specify strict post-traumatic wound surveillance protocol and roles of novel tissue tests to improve time to diagnosis and prognosis of frequently fatal post-traumatic Mucorales infections. Keywords: Mucormycosis, Post-traumatic infections, Neurovascular infections, Apophysomyces elegans