Surgical and medical complications associated with mucormycosis in a tertiary hospital

BACKGROUND: Mucormycosis is an infection caused by Mucorales. Management includes surgical treatment and antifungals. OBJECTIVE: To describe the surgical and medical complications associated with mucormycosis in a third-level hospital. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Records of patients with mucormycosis treated between 2019 and 2022 were collected. RESULTS: A total of 25 patients were obtained, 17 (68%) men and 8 (32%) women. Surgical complications occurred on admission in 16% and early in 4% of cases. The most frequent medical complications were soft tissue infection on admission (84%) and late sepsis (52%). Amphotericin B deoxycholate was used in all cases, finding hypokalemia in 20 (80%), hypomagnesemia in 18 (72%), and acute kidney injury in 15 (60%). CONCLUSIONS: The most commonly performed surgery was surgical debridement on admission (76%). Surgical complications occurred mainly on admission (16%). The most frequent medical complications were soft tissue infection on admission (84%) and late sepsis (52%). Due to the high cost of the liposomal and lipid forms of amphotericin, the use of amphotericin B deoxycholate continues to persist in our setting, which leads to a high degree of renal toxicity and hydroelectrolytic alterations.