Rhizopus rhizopodiformis: emerging etiological agent of mucormycosis

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Abstract
Mucormycosis is caused principally by members of the genus Rhizopus, especially R. arrhizus and R. oryzae. Infection attributable to R. rhizopodiformis was documented. Of 13 cases of mucormycosis diagnosed during a 4 yr period (1974-1978) at Mt. Sinai Hospital [New York, USA], 6 cases, occurring within 9 mo., were caused by R. rhizopodiformis. The 6 isolates were identified mainly by growth at 50.degree. C, production of short, sometimes branched sporangiophores arising from opposite rhizoids, elongated columellae and small spherical-to-elliptical, smooth-to-finely striated sporangiospores. This explosive occurrence of R. rhizopodiformis may have been due to nosocomial acquisition; this mycotic agent was recovered from adhesive bandages used in the cardiac intensive care unit where a patient developed subcutaneous R. rhizopodiformis infection after cardiac surgery. The invasive potential of R. rhizopodiformis was manifested by the extensive subcutaneous and systemic infections in each of the 6 patients, 3 of whom developed antibody against this mucormycotic agent.