Fungal Invasive Co-Infection Due to <i>Aspergillus fumigatus</i> and <i>Rhizopus arrhizus</i>: A Rhino-Orbital Presentation

Abstract

Aspergillosis and mucormycosis are filamentous fungal infections occurring predominantly in immunocompromised patients. Fulminant process with rapid infiltration of the contiguous tissue is distinctive for both type of fungi. The rhinocerebral co-infection by Aspergillus and Mucorales is very rare and is usually associated in immunocompromised patients with a high mortality rate. This rare co-infection leads to difficulties in diagnosis, and therapeutic delays can result in a poor prognosis. Overall, the treatment of choice is surgical debridement and liposomal amphotericin B. This paper describes a combined aspergillosis and mucormycosis case in a diabetes mellitus type 2 patient with chronic ulcerations of the palatal and cheek. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an uncommon co-infection of Aspergillus fumigatus and Rhizopus arrhizus in a rhino-orbital presentation.

Keywords

• mucormycosis
• <i>Rhizopus arrhizus</i>
• fungal infection
• aspergillosis
• <i>Aspergillus fumigatus</i>