Retina & vitreous · practice question
Which combination of measures is essential?
[READINESS SEED] Rhino-orbital mucormycosis is confirmed in a patient with diabetic ketoacidosis. Which combination of measures is essential?
Show the answer and explanationAnswer and explanation
Answer: A. Debridement with amphotericin and metabolic correction
Mucormycosis requires urgent, wide surgical debridement of necrotic tissue, systemic amphotericin B, and reversal of the predisposing state (correcting ketoacidosis and any immunosuppression) — because the angioinvasive, infarcting fungus outpaces medical therapy alone. All three arms are needed together.
Clinical pearl: Because dead tissue is avascular, antifungals cannot penetrate it — which is why aggressive debridement is inseparable from drug therapy.