Evaluation of patients with zygomycosis.

Aim: Zygomycosis is a severe angioinvasive infection caused by Zygomycetes. We retrospectively investigated 16 cases of zygomycosis. Materials and methods: he data of patients, who had been followed between 2004 and 2010 in 8 tertiary-care teaching hospitals, were reviewed. Demographic characteristics, underlying diseases, and clinical signs and symptoms of the patients, as well as diagnostic methods, data obtained by radiological imaging methods, and the therapies, were recorded. herapeutic approaches, antifungal agents and duration of use, and the characteristics of the cases were identiied. Results: he study included 11 female and 5 male subjects. he most common symptoms and clinical signs were fever (n = 9) and retro- orbital pain (n = 7). Rhinocerebral zygomycosis was the most common form. he mean time elapsed for diagnosis was 14.26 ± 13.96 (range: 2-52) days. Antifungal therapy was given to 15 patients (94%). In addition to antifungal therapy, 12 patients underwent surgical intervention 1 to 4 times. he mean duration of receiving antifungal therapy was 61.4 ± 58.02 (range: 1-180) days. he median duration of treatment was 62.5 (range: 42-180) days in survivors. Conclusion: Zygomycosis is an infectious disease with high mortality despite antifungal therapy and surgical interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]