Pulmonary Mucormycosis in a Young Adult as a Complication of a Bronchopulmonary Fistula

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Abstract

Background and Clinical Significance: Pulmonary mucormycosis (PM) is a life-threatening opportunistic infection caused by fungi of the Mucorales order, in-cluding genera such as Rhizopus, Absidia, and Mucor. This condition predominantly affects immunocompromised individuals, with mortality rates exceeding 50% in high-risk populations.; Case Presentation: We present the case of a 33-year-old female with a medical history of type 1 diabetes mellitus (poorly controlled) and hypothy-roidism, who presented to the hospital with a 7-day history of productive cough (mu-coid expectoration), chills, and myalgia. An unenhanced chest computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a pneumonic process with left basal consolidation, predominantly in the lower lobe. Empirical broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy was initiated; however, the patient exhibited clinical deterioration, prompting consultation with the thoracic sur-gery team. A left thoracotomy with wedge resection and histopathological biopsy was performed, confirming invasive pulmonary mucormycosis through visualization of broad, pauci-septate hyphae on microscopy. Following diagnosis, the infectious disease department initiated antifungal therapy with intravenous liposomal amphotericin B (5 mg/kg/day); Conclusions: The patient demonstrated marked clinical improvement over the subsequent two weeks, enabling discharge with plans for 6 weeks of contin-ued antifungal treatment and glycemic optimization.

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