Clinically, mucor is known as a fungal mold and a microbial genus. This mold can be found in a human’s digestive system and even in the soil or rotten plants. According to Liu (2011), mucor is normally known to grow as a white to gray mold. Biologically, mucor is a member of the zygomycetes species. Mucor is known to grow in environments with very high temperatures. Although mucor is economically significant and not necessarily harmful to humans, it can also cause infections.
A patient is likely to get an infection through mucor if they inhale the fungal spores. In addition, the inhaling of the conidia can be dangerous to a patient with a weak immune system. The possibility of such infection is high if the patient is suffering from other ailments such as cancer, diabetes, and kidney failure. Medics have also reiterated that patients receiving medication for acute iron poisoning can highly get a mucor infection (Liu, 2011).
The pathophysiological progression of the mucor infection into pneumonia is started by a causative agent. In this case, the mucor is inhaled into the human body through the respiratory tract. It has also been proven that the aspiration of oral secretions is one of the ways through which causative agents gain entry into the human body. Consequently, the causative agent enters the lungs with the aid of the circulating blood. In this context, the commonly known causative agents are mucormycosis, Histoplasma capsulatum, Cryptococcus neoformans, and coccidioides immitis. The causative agent multiplies and causes inflammation and edema of the lungs. This is because such causative agents can release toxins that damage the lungs. Pneumonia will only occur if air sacs and lungs’ airways are unable to function properly (Anatomical Chart Co, 2005). This is only possible if liquid instead of oxygen fills into the air sacs.
In the case of mucormycosis, pneumonia intervention entails surgery (Shields, 2005). This intervention should be conducted during the early disease detection stage. Surgical intervention entails removing the already infected tissues or dead tissues. This can also be supplemented with intravenous antifungal therapy. The use of antifungal drugs can also be prescribed for the patient. Such drugs include antibiotics or echinocandins.
Abnormal lab values are considered as results, not within the range of results that can be termed as normal. In this case, there is always a need to redo the lab test on the patient. In this case, the abnormal results should be compared with what is considered normal. From the laboratory tests, the abnormal values are that the patient is not having enough oxygen, is unable to exhale enough carbon dioxide and the patient is having a kidney malfunction.
Lack of enough oxygen may result from respiratory depression, which is a result of pneumonic infection. Moreover, such can also be caused by overexposure to narcotics and ailment from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (Anatomical Chart Co, 2005). In this context, it also becomes difficult for the patient to get rid of the carbon dioxide, while having a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or pneumonia (Anatomical Chart Co, 2005). The emotional distress that emanates from such experiences interferes with oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange. On the other hand, metabolic acidosis due to lower pH affects kidney functions.
Lack of enough oxygen requires the admission of antibiotics. This is because the patient may have other lung infections.
If the patient cannot get rid of the carbon dioxide, they can receive supplemental oxygen. This means they have to be hospitalized for a while.
Kidney malfunction can be treated by drinking plenty of fluids. This can help to ease the secretion of body toxins.
References
Anatomical Chart Co. (2005). Anatomy and pathology. Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Liu, D. (2011). Molecular detection of human fungal pathogens. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
Shields, W. T. (2005). General thoracic surgery, 6e. Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.