Mucormycosis is a rapidly progressive, invasive fungal infection that predominantly affects immunocompromised individuals. Although rhino-orbital-cerebral disease is the most common clinical presentation, gastrointestinal mucormycosis is rare and associated with higher mortality rates. We report the case of a 55-year-old woman with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus and chronic airway disease who presented with septic shock secondary to emphysematous pyelonephritis and diabetic ketoacidosis. She was treated with insulin infusion and intravenous meropenem for 14 days. Despite recovery from acute kidney injury, she continued to experience persistent nausea and poor oral intake. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy demonstrated gastric ulceration, and histopathological examination confirmed gastric mucormycosis. Liposomal amphotericin B was initiated with subsequent improvement in patient appetite and resolution of nausea. This case highlights the importance of early endoscopic evaluation and tissue diagnosis in high-risk patients with persistent gastrointestinal symptoms during recovery from critical illness.
Katragadda et al. (Fri,) studied this question.