Infectious Disease Compendium

Absidia (Lichtheimia)

Microbiology

A mold, in family Mucoraceae, an agent of mucormycosis. Includes A. corymbifera (most common clinical isolate) as well as Absidia coerulea, Absidia cylindrospora, Absidia glauca, L. ramosa,  Absidia spinosa, and more.

Some Absidia have been reclassified as Lichthemia: "Among the Absidia species, the most important species associated with mucormycosis is A. corymbifera. According to physiological, phylogenetic and morphological data, it was proposed that three Absidia species, A. corymbiferaA. blakesleeana and A. hyalospora, should be reclassified as a separate family, Lichtheimiaceae fam. nov., and the three species renamed as Lichtheimia corymbiferaLichtheimia blakesleeana and Lichtheimia hyalospora. L. blakesleeana was subsequently reduced to a synonym of L. hyalospora."

Epidemiologic Risks

The mold is ubiquitous, especially in rotting organic material.

And Romanian spices (PubMed).

Syndromes

Invasive disease in the neutropenic, especially leukemics and burn patients.  Lung, CNS, rhinocerebral and cutaneous disease lead the list.

Treatment

Amphotericin B, at high dose (1.5 mg/kg/d is a good start) or liposomal at maximal dose but it is as effective as I would be in the ring with Mike Tyson. It is resistant to caspofungin, and all the azoles in vivo (PubMed) (PubMed).

Notes

Barely susceptible to anything, it is best treated with resection if possible and reconstitution of the host immune system.

Last update: 12/03/19