Pulmonary Mucormycosis (Coursework Sample)

Pulmonary Mucormycosis
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Mucor belongs to a fungal genus that grows as white grey or beige moulds in the environment and as hypha in tissue. The natural habitats of mucor include; the soil, plant surfaces, rotten vegetables and the digestive systems. Mucor may cause infections known as mucormycosis. Mucor mycosis may occur in the lungs, brain, sinuses, skin, gastrointestinal tract or cerebrum. Mucor mycosis is a rare infection but highly aggressive and fatal that occurs in people with compromised immunity (Kontoyiannis, 2011). The main route of infection is inhalation of spores. Infections may also occur as a result of ingestion and traumatic inoculation.
Once the spores have been inhaled into the lungs they begin to grow into hyphal forms. The hypha invade blood vessels producing necrosis, thrombosis or tissue infarction. Treatment of pulmonary mucormycosis (pneumonia caused by mucor) is usually through antifungal drugs mainly amphotericin B and posaconazole for four to six weeks. Surgical intervention involving where the necrotic tissue is removed is mandatory for patient survival (Spellberg, Edwards & Ibrahim, 2005).
The patient has abnormal White Blood Cell count of 15200/mm3 the normal range is between 4000 – 11000/ mm3. The high white blood cell count is an indication that the body is trying to fight an infection by producing more white blood cells. The patient also shows low lymphocyte levels despite having high white blood cell count. This means that the body cannot adequately fight infections, therefore the susceptible to infections including mucormycosis that does not infect immune competent people. Treatment includes treating the infection and giving the patient immune boosters like immune globulin (Greenberg, Scott, Vaugh, & Ribes, 2004).
The patient’s PH is 7.50 while the normal arterial range is between 7.35 and 7.45. The amount of carbon dioxide dissolved in arterial blood is 25mm Hg the normal range is 35 to 45 mm Hg. The amount of bicarbonate in the blood stream is higher than normal at 29 mEq/L. The PH, dissolved carbon dioxide and blood bicarbonate test results indicate that the patient has alkalosis. Alkalosis is a condition whereby the body fluids contain too much alkaline. This alkalosis is caused by the lung infection, this is also illustrated by the arterial oxygen levels (59mmHg) of the patient. ...