The epidemiology and clinical manifestations of mucormycosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of case reports

Abstract

Background: The epidemiology of mucormycosis in the era of modern diagnostics is relatively under-explored. Objectives: To examine the contemporary epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis and causative pathogens of mucormycosis. Data sources: Ovid MEDLINE and Ovid EMBASE from January 2000 to January 2017. Study eligibility criteria: Published case reports/series of proven/probable mucormycosis. Participants: Patients ≥18 years old. Methods: Patient characteristics, disease manifestations and causative pathogens were summarized descriptively. Categorical variables were assessed by chi-square test or Fischer's exact test, and continuous variables by the Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney or Kruska..