Health Mucormycosis What is mucormycosis? Mucormycosis (sometimes called zygomycosis) is a serious but rare fungal infection caused by a group of molds called mucormycetes.  These fungi live throughout the environment, particularly in soil and in decaying organic matter, such as leaves, compost piles, or rotten wood.   1 People get mucormycosis by coming in contact with the fungal spores in the environment. For example, the lung or sinus forms of the infection can occur after someone breathes in spores. These forms of mucormycosis usually occur in people who have health problems or take medicines that lower the body’s ability to fight germs and sickness.   3 , 6  Mucormycosis can also develop on the skin after the fungus enters the skin through a cut, scrape, burn, or other type of skin trauma. Types of mucormycosis Rhinocerebral (sinus and brain) mucormycosis  is an infection in the sinuses that can spread to the brain. This form of mucormycosis is most common in people with uncontrol