Pulmonary embolism and gastric bleed with disseminated mucormycosis - treading dangerous waters

Abstract

Mucormycosis is an opportunistic infection seen in immunocompromised patients or in surgical and trauma settings with Mucorales wound contamination. In immunocompetent people, disseminated mucormycosis is uncommon. To ensure survival, patients with mucormycosis require early diagnosis and aggressive treatment using a multi-modality approach. We present a case of disseminated mucormycosis in an immunocompetent patient who also had pulmonary embolism and gastrointestinal bleeding. A recent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, identified retrospectively by a positive IgM against SARS-CoV-2, was the only risk factor present. This report emphasizes the increased risk of mucormycosis and thromboembolic complications following a recent SARS-CoV-2 infection, as well as its successful treatment with medical therapy alone.

Keywords

• acute pulmonary embolism
• COVID-19 complications
• gastrointestinal mucormycosis
• disseminated mucormycosis
• cerebral mucormycosis