Infectious Disease Compendium

Apophysomyces

Microbiology

Mould, a zygomycetes. Apophysomyces elegans, A. variabilis, A. trapeziformis, and A. ossiformis.

Epidemiologic Risks

Found in rotting organic material.

Syndromes

Tends to cause invasive disease in leukemic's and their ilk, soft tissue infections in burn patients and after injury with wood/dirt in normal hosts. Usually Apophysomyces elegans.

Necrotizing soft tissue infections after trauma in diabetics and after tornado injuries in normal hosts (PubMed) (PubMed). How Dorothy avoided it on the way to Oz is unknown. That scene scared the hell out of me as a kid (childhood fears). My mom says I hid under the kitchen table.

Treatment

I&D first then traditionally lipid amphotericin may be the best but posaconazole (PubMed)? It seems to work in a few case reports.

Notes

Last Update: 04/08/18.