BACKGROUND: Reports of pulmonary aspergillosis and mucormycosis co-infections are rare; thus, limited guidance is available on early diagnosis and treatment. We present a case of mixed pulmonary Aspergillus and Mucor infection and review the literature regarding this co-infection. The diagnosis and treatment methods are summarized to improve clinicians\' understanding of the disease and to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment.
METHODS: A 60-year-old male farmer with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus was admitted to hospital with a fever of unknown origin that had been present for 15 days and pulmonary aspergillosis complicated by Mucor spp.
BACKGROUND: Because multiple lobes were involved, the infection worsened despite surgical resection and antifungal therapy. Finally, we treated this patient with a bronchoscopic infusion of amphotericin B. After four courses of bronchoscopic amphotericin B infusion, we observed rapid clinical improvement and subsequent resolution of pulmonary infiltrates.
CONCLUSIONS: Our case highlights the use of bronchoscopy in the successful clinical treatment of invasive fungal diseases of the lung.

Mucormycosis is an invasive fungal infection that can result in severe lung infections, with pulmonary mucormycosis (PM) being one of the most prevalent manifestations. Prompt diagnosis is crucial for patient survival, as PM often exhibits rapid clinical progression and carries a high fatality rate. Broncho-alveolar lavage fluid or endobronchial biopsy (EBB) has been commonly employed for diagnosing PM, although there is limited mention of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) in the literature. In this report, we present a case of PM in a patient with diabetes. While EBB did not yield evidence of Rhizopus infection, a definitive diagnosis was obtained through EBUS-TBNA. The patient underwent combination therapy, including oral medication, nebulization, and EBUS-guided intrafocal amphotericin B injection, which resulted in significant improvement following the failure of initial therapy with amphotericin B injection cholesterol sulfate complex. Our case highlights the potential of EBUS-TBNA not only for mediastinal lymphadenopathy but also for obtaining extraluminal lesion specimens. Furthermore, for patients with an inadequate response to mono-therapy and no access to surgical therapy, the addition of EBUS-guided intralesional amphotericin B injection to systemic intravenous therapy may yield unexpected effects.

Mucormycosis has become more prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic and is associated with a high mortality rate. However, concurrent host allergic reactions, invasive pulmonary mucormycosis, and disseminated mucormycosis are rarely reported. Herein, we describe a case of disseminated mucormycosis initially misdiagnosed as a malignancy that developed from allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis caused by Rhizopus microsporus in a woman with post-SARS-CoV-2 infection. The previously healthy patient presented with a sizeable mass in the right middle lobe and multiple lesions across the lungs, brain, spleen, kidneys, pancreas, and subcutaneous tissue 6 months after SARS-CoV-2 infection, mimicking an extensive metastatic malignancy. Eosinophilia, elevated total plasma immunoglobulin E, and significant eosinophilic lung tissue infiltration were observed. Rhizopus microsporus was isolated from subcutaneous tissue, and hyphae were detected in the lung tissue. Sequential amphotericin B liposomes followed by isavuconazole antifungal therapy combined with systemic corticosteroids improved symptoms, significantly reduced the sizes of pulmonary lesions, and reduced eosinophil count. However, it failed to halt the overall progression of the disease, and the patient died. The absence of asthma-like symptoms and delayed recognition of invasive fungal infection signs contributed to poorer outcomes, highlighting the need for a thorough post-COVID-19 follow-up.

Pulmonary mucormycosis (PM) is an invasive and potentially fatal fungal infection, with Rhizopus microsporus (R. microsporus) being the most common pathogen. The routine therapy for this infection includes surgery and antifungal agents. However, the therapeutic effects of single agents are unsatisfactory due to the rapid progression of mucormycosis, while not all patients can tolerate surgery. Innovative treatment methods like combination therapy await validations of their clinical efficacy. We report a case of PM that was diagnosed via metagenomics next-generation sequencing (mNGS) of black drainage fluid from the patient\'s lung. The patient eventually recovered and was discharged after a combination therapy of oral isavuconazole, inhaled amphotericin B, and local perfusion of amphotericin B through bronchoscopy, which may be a promising strategy for the treatment of PM, especially for cases where surgery is not possible. A retrospective study of 297 cases in a literature review highlights the different treatment methods used in clinical practice.

Pulmonary mucormycosis is a severe and often fatal disease that commonly affects patients with underlying conditions, such as diabetes. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are crucial for improving survival rates. However, clinical diagnosis remains challenging due to difficulty in obtaining etiological evidence. In this particular case, the patient presented with a cough-producing bloody sputum, and a chest CT revealed lesions in the right upper lobe of the lung. The patient was ultimately diagnosed with pulmonary mucormycosis caused by Rhizopus delemar through clinical bronchoscopy biopsy and metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid sample. Subsequently, antifungal therapy using the less toxic Amphotericin B cholesterol Organosulfate complex was initiated, improving the patient\'s condition. In conclusion, our findings underscore the potential of mNGS to provide an accurate and rapid etiological diagnosis of pulmonary mucormycosis, offering a foundation for treatment.

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BACKGROUND: Pulmonary mucormycosis is a rare but life-threatening invasive fungal infection that mostly affects immunocompromised patients. This disease usually develops acutely and progresses rapidly, often leading to a poor clinical prognosis. Chronic pulmonary mucormycosis is highly unusual in immunocompetent patients.
METHODS: A 43-year-old man, who was a house improvement worker with a long history of occupational dust exposure, presented with an irritating cough that had lasted for two months. The patient was previously in good health, without dysglycemia or any known immunodeficiencies. Chest computed tomography revealed a mass in the left lower lobe, measuring approximately 6 cm in diameter, which was suspected to be primary lung carcinoma complicated with obstructive pneumonia. Thoracoscopic-assisted left lower lobectomy was performed, and metagenomic next-generation sequencing detection, along with special pathological staining of surgical specimens, suggested Rhizopus microsporus infection. Postoperatively, the patient\'s respiratory symptoms were relieved, and no signs of recurrence were found during the six-month follow-up.
CONCLUSIONS: This article reports a rare case of chronic pulmonary mucormycosis caused by Rhizopus microsporus in a middle-aged male without dysglycemia or immunodeficiency. The patient\'s surgical outcome was excellent, reaffirming that surgery remains the cornerstone of pulmonary mucormycosis treatment.

This is the first report describing co-infection of Scedosporium apiospermum and Lichtheimia corymbifera caused by biogas inhalation in two people without underlying medical conditions. Two patients fell into the same pig manure pit at the same time while rescuing another patient (this person died in a few hours) and inhaled biogas. Both patients were diagnosed with pulmonary fungal disease and developed acute liver failure around Day 52. Their results were negative for the 1,3-β-d-glucan test and weakly positive for the galactomannan test. They were treated with amphotericin B and/or posaconazole without surgery. The patient in case 2 required amphotericin B deoxycholate aerosol inhalation to complete the treatment. Both patients recovered completely. For patients with mucormycosis confined to the lungs who cannot tolerate intravenous drip amphotericin B, increasing the dose of nebulised administration maybe a salvage regimen.

Pulmonary mucormycosis (PM) is a rare and life-threatening fungal infection. Here, we report a case of an acute T lymphoblastic leukemia patient with mixed infections of lethal invasive Mucormycosis and multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria. After receiving anti-infection drugs to control the patient\'s fever, he was treated with induction chemotherapy. However, the malignant hematological disease was poorly controlled by the chemotherapy and the patient developed more symptoms of infection. Although the results of multiple β-D-Glucan (G) and Galactomannan (GM) tests remained negative, several pathogens were detected using metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS). In particular, mNGS identified Malassezia pachydermum, Mucor racemosus, and Lauteria mirabilis in the peripheral blood and local secretion samples. The Mucor and bacterial infections were further confirmed via multi-site and repeated fungal and bacterial cultures, respectively. Despite adjusting the anti-infection therapy according to the diagnostic results, the patient\'s blood disease and symptoms of infection were not alleviated. Additionally, the MDR Acinetobacter baumannii infection/colonization was not confirmed until the seventh culture of the peripheral venous catheter tip. Due to the patient\'s deteriorating conditions, his family decided to withdraw him from further treatment. Overall, mNGS can facilitate a diagnosis of Mucormycosis by providing clinical and therapeutic information to support conventional diagnostic approaches. For the early and timely diagnosis and treatment of PM, it is also necessary to consider the malignant hematological conditions and repeated tests through multiple detection methods.

BACKGROUND: Rhizopus microsporus (R. microsporus) lung infection is an invasive fungal disease with high mortality that is increasingly common in immunocompromised patients. However, it is very rare in immunocompetent patients. Here, we present the case of a 19-year-old girl who developed R. microsporus lung infection without any known immunodeficiency.
METHODS: The patient presented to our hospital because of hemoptysis and irritative cough without expectoration. She was first treated for community-acquired pneumonia until the detection of R. microsporus in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid by metagenomics next-generation sequencing (mNGS). After a combination therapy of intravenous inhalation and local airway perfusion of amphotericin B, she eventually recovered, with significant absorption of lung infections.
CONCLUSIONS: Early diagnosis and treatment are very important for pulmonary mucormycosis. Compared to fungal culture, mNGS is a relatively precise and convenient method to obtain pathogenic results. A combination therapy of intravenous inhalation and local airway perfusion of amphotericin B may be a promising strategy for the treatment of pulmonary mucormycosis in the future.