Early use of posaconazole in the successful treatment of rhino-orbital mucormycosis caused by Rhizopus oryzae.

Author(s): Kok J, Gilroy N, Halliday C, Lee OC, Novakovic D, Kevin P, Chen S

Affiliation(s): Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. jenk@icpmr.wsahs.nsw.gov.au <jenk@icpmr.wsahs.nsw.gov.au>

Publication date & source: 2007-09, J Infect., 55(3):e33-6. Epub 2007 Jul 10.

Publication type: Case Reports

Mucormycosis is a potentially fatal, rapidly destructive, opportunistic infection often seen in immunocompromsied individuals and patients with diabetes mellitus. We describe two patients with rhino-orbital mucormycosis caused by Rhizopus oryzae who received posaconazole within 7 days of diagnosis and in whom cure was achieved in conjunction with extensive surgical resection of diseased tissue. Posaconazole was well-tolerated. Our experience indicates that this new extended-spectrum azole antifungal agent can be used early in the course of zygomycete infection with good results.