Mucormycosis outbreak caused by Rhizomucor pusillus in a Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Unit, Brazil.
An outbreak of mucormycosis caused by Rhizomucor pusillus in a Brazilian HSCT unit resulted in four cases over ten months, with three patients surviving after early treatment.
- Why it matters: Mucormycosis poses a high mortality risk in immunocompromised patients, yet healthcare-associated outbreaks are rarely documented, highlighting the need for better understanding and control measures.
- What they did: The investigation involved screening hospital records, microbiological identification, ITS sequencing, whole-genome sequencing, and environmental sampling, focusing on four proven cases within the HSCT unit.
- The result: Despite negative environmental findings and non-clonal isolates, epidemiological evidence indicates nosocomial transmission, and air system maintenance prevented further cases, emphasizing the importance of infection control.