Microbiology
Mould, zygomycetes. Apophysomyces elegans, A. variabilis, A. trapeziformis, and A. ossiformis.
Epidemiologic Risks
Found in rotting organic material. Mostly found in the tropics and sub-tropics
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. Many reports of A. variabilis out of India and Asia.
Necrotizing soft tissue infections after trauma in diabetics, burns, 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 but has MICs and perhaps be the best but posaconazole (PubMed)? It seems to work in a few case reports.
Notes
Most organisms can't grow at 98.4 this organism thrives at human core temperature and higher.
Last Update: 12/29/19.