Zygomycosis

Zygomycosis is the broadest term for infections caused by the bread mold fungi once grouped in the phylum Zygomycota. Because that phylum is now known to be polyphyletic and is no longer used in fungal classification, the diseases are better named by their specific forms: mucormycosis, phycomycosis and basidiobolomycosis. These rare but serious and potentially life-threatening infections usually affect the face or the nose and mouth, and may also involve the skin or gastrointestinal tract, often beginning in the nose and paranasal sinuses. The fungi are common in soil and decaying vegetation, so people with weakened immunity are most at risk, as are people with soil-contaminated wounds after disasters such as tornadoes. Treatment is prompt intensive antifungal therapy together with surgery to remove infected tissue.