A FATAL PRESENTATION OF SURGICAL SITE MUCORMYCOSIS jhirwalm@aiimsjodhpur.edu.in

 

A FATAL PRESENTATION OF SURGICAL SITE MUCORMYCOSIS

2

 

 

 

 

India

Oral or Poster

The mortality rate of cutaneous mucormycosis is 20–40%.

We present a rare and fatal case of postpartum cutaneous mucormycosis following a lower-segment cesarean section (LSCS) in a 23-year-old female. Within two weeks of LSCS, the patient developed blackish discoloration, persistent fever, and leukocytosis (38000/mm3). Mucor infection with extensive necrosis was confirmed by histopathology during initial debridement.

In addition to multiple surgical debridements, aggressive antifungal treatment and supportive therapy were administered. As the infection progressed, it eventually caused systemic involvement and multi-organ failure. Despite intensive care and multidisciplinary treatment, the patient died.

Postpartum cutaneous mucormycosis is an extremely rare but potentially lethal complication following a cesarean delivery. A high index of suspicion is warranted in non-healing, necrotic surgical wounds, especially when associated with systemic signs.