Invasive Aspergillosis of the Stomach and Co-infection With Candida krusei in a Patient With Terminal Liver Failure: A Case Report

Successful Liver Retransplantation in a Patient With Disseminated Aspergillosis and Nocardiosis: A Case Report

BACKGROUND

Clinical guidelines list active fungal infection and sepsis as contraindications to liver transplantation due to the risk of worsening infection with immunosuppression postoperatively. Mortality from systemic opportunistic infections in transplant recipients is high, approaching 100% for disseminated aspergillosis. However, the optimal duration of treatment required before transplant is unclear. Additionally, delaying surgery while the infection is treated risks death from hepatic decompensation and physical deconditioning, preventing progression to transplantation.

CASE REPORT

Here, we present a patient who underwent successful repeat liver transplantation for recurrent autoimmune hepatitis and graft rejection while undergoing treatment for disseminated aspergillosis and nocardiosis. He had pulmonary, hepatic, and central nervous system involvement. He had received 2 months of antimicrobials but had ongoing radiologic evidence of infection when listed for retransplantation. He remains well and infection-free 1 year postoperatively.

CONCLUSION

Few cases of successful liver transplantation in the setting of disseminated aspergillosis have been reported previously. To our knowledge, this is the first successful liver transplant in a patient with disseminated nocardial infection.

The antifungal activity of caspofungin in combination with antifungals or non-antifungals against Candida species in vitro and in clinical therapy

Introduction: Candida species have been regarded as global health threats due to their ability to cause invasive infections. It is challenging to treat Candida bloodstream infections, which are associated with high mortality levels. Monotherapy with antifungals is sometimes not effective against severe Candida infections, and combination therapy is needed in clinical practice.Areas covered: This review was undertaken based on data from a PubMed search for English language reports published before March 2021 by using the terms 'caspofungin,' 'Candida species,' 'combination therapy,' 'antifungal effect,' and 'novel antifungal agent.'Expert opinion: Combination therapy is an empirical strategy for treating refractory Candida infections. Caspofungin has been recommended to treat candidaemia. Caspofungin in combination therapy has some applications, while the efficacy of combination therapy in the treatment of refractory Candida infections needs more study, such as randomized controlled trials. In addition, novel compounds or drugs with potential antifungal activities have been examined, and some of them exhibit synergistic interactions with caspofungin. Thus, the antifungal activity of caspofungin in combination with antifungals or non-antifungals against Candida species in vitro and in clinical therapy is summarized.

Invasive aspergillosis causing gastric necrosis and perforation: A case report

Aspergillosis is an opportunistic infection commonly seen in immunocompromised patients. Patients with hematological malignancies, postorgan transplantation, or those with comorbid conditions are susceptible to the development of invasive aspergillosis. Lungs are the main portal of entry and are thus most commonly involved. Aspergillosis can involve the gut, causing vascular thrombosis leading to ischemia and necrosis of the gut wall, resulting in perforation. Primary gastric involvement has been rarely seen, with few case reports in the literature. We report a rare case of primary invasive gastric aspergillosis in a 60‐year‐old diabetic and cirrhotic woman, who presented with clinical features of perforation peritonitis. Exploratory laparotomy was performed, and a 6 cm × 6 cm perforation with necrotizing inflammation was found in the distal stomach, pylorus, and duodenum. Distal gastrectomy with Billroth II reconstruction was performed. Pathology demonstrated septate fungal hyphae invading the gastric wall transmurally. The morphology was compatible with those of Aspergillus spp. Liposomal amphotericin B was started immediately after surgery based on the presence of unusually large areas of necrosis and perforation with blackish exudate covering the ulcer base. Unfortunately, the patient succumbed to rapidly progressive fungal septicemia despite early surgical intervention and critical care management. We recommend that any large confluent areas of gastric ulceration and necrosis with blackish exudates in an appropriate setting should evoke suspicion of invasive fungal infection. These patients should be started on prophylactic broadspectrum antifungal therapy immediately, which may be switched over to specific therapy once the diagnosis is confirmed.