Cunninghamella bertholletiae Infection

Cunninghamella is a member of the Family Cunninghamellaceae and of the Order Mucorales. Cunninghamella is an opportunistic fungi that rarely causes invasive mucormycosis, however, it can lead to a fatal infection in immunocompromised patients. C. bertholletiae is the only species that has been established to be a human pathogen. Clinical presentations vary from localized infection to multifocal infection, and most of the patients have poor outcome due to delayed diagnosis and treatment. Therefore, empirical treatment with broad spectrum antifungal agents including surgical debridement is mandatory once there is clinical suspicion. (J Infect Dis Antimicrob Agents 2014;31:37-49.) Note: This case had been presented and discussed in the Interhospital Case Conference on Infectious Disease (ICCID) on 16 May 2013, Bangkok, Thailand. REVIEW ARTICLE