An unusual presentation of invasive Fusarium aortitis in a patient who is immunocompromised: A case report

Fusarium (F.) species are ubiquitous filamentous fungi that may cause various opportunistic infections, especially in patients who are immunocompromised. A rare manifestation of disseminated fusariosis affects the aortic valve and results in invasive aortitis, which poses a significant challenge for clinicians in diagnosis and treatment. Here, we report a case of a patient, aged 54 years, who is immunocompromised, presenting initially with Fusarium keratitis and chorioretinitis in both eyes and a new endovascular aortic mass. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography was performed, suggesting aortitis. Transoesophageal echocardiography and electrocardiogram-guided computed tomography-angiography confirmed a large intraluminal mass in the ascending aorta. The aortic mass and a part of the ascending aorta were resected surgically, and a filamentous fungus with the microscopic features of the genus Fusarium was isolated and later identified molecularly as F. petroliphilum. The course of the treatment was complicated by perioperative cerebral embolization and mesenteric ischemia. These complications could be attributed to a preoperatively existing occlusion of the superior and inferior mesenteric artery and a subtotal stenosis of the celiac trunk. This case report describes a rare manifestation of disseminated fusariosis, frequently characterized by protracted clinical courses with poor prognosis. Fusariosis may manifest at different sites at different times or persist as a long-lasting disease with reactivation. This case highlights the importance of the interdisciplinary approach for effectively treating invasive mycoses.

Invasive mycoses in patients with connective tissue disease from Southern China: clinical features and associated factors

Background

A retrospective study was performed to investigate the clinical features and associated factors of invasive mycoses (IM) in patients with connective tissue disease (CTD) from Southern China.

Methods

Demographic and clinical data were recorded. Associated factors were analyzed by logistic regression analysis.

Results

A total of 6911 patients with CTD were included. IM was diagnosed in 32 patients (incidence, 0.5%). IM was predominant in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) (incidence, 1.5%, 7/480). Lung was commonly involved (30/32, 93.8%). Aspergillus spp. (81.3%) were the leading strain. The positive rate of fungi detection in sputum culture was 69.0%. Serum galactomannan (GM) test was positive in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from seven (7/10, 70.0%) patients. Ten patients died (31.3%), including three with AAV (42.9%) and seven with SLE (36.8%). Penicillium marneffei was the most fatal (mortality, 100%). Non-survivors had higher prevalence of leukopenia (30.0% vs 4.5%, P = 0.04), lymphopenia (100.0% vs 59.1%, P = 0.02), elevated serum creatinine (70.0% vs 27.3%, P = 0.02), and co-infection (70.0% vs 18.2%, P = 0.004) than survivors. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that lymphopenia [odds ratio (OR) = 3.28, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.29–8.38, P = 0.01] and median-to-high dose of glucocorticoid (GC) [OR = 3.40, 95% CI 1.04–11.13, P = 0.04] were associated with IM in patients with CTD.

Conclusions

IM tended to develop in patients with AAV, resulting in high mortality. Sputum culture and GM test in BALF were effective methods to distinguish IM. Vigilance against lymphopenia, impaired kidney function, and co-infection improved the prognosis of IM.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13075-019-1851-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Coinfection with Lichtheimia corymbifera and Aspergillus flavus in an Immune-Competent Patient Mimicking as Pulmonary-Renal Syndrome

Lichtheimia corymbifera and Aspergillus flavus pulmonary coinfection has been rarely reported in immune-competent patients. We report case of a young male who presented with clinical features of pulmonary-renal syndrome and was later diagnosed to have bilateral polymicrobial fungal lung infection.

Population-based analysis of invasive fungal infections, France, 2001-2010

These infections are underrecognized as a cause of death in the general population and high-risk groups.

To determine the epidemiology and trends of invasive fungal infections (IFIs) in France, we analyzed incidence, risk factors, and in-hospital death rates related to the most frequent IFIs registered in the national hospital discharge database during 2001–2010. The identified 35,876 IFI cases included candidemia (43.4%), Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (26.1%), invasive aspergillosis (IA, 23.9%), cryptococcosis (5.2%), and mucormycosis (1.5%). The overall incidence was 5.9/100,000 cases/year and the mortality rate was 27.6%; both increased over the period (+1.5%, +2.9%/year, respectively). Incidences substantially increased for candidemia, IA, and mucormycosis. Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia incidence decreased among AIDS patients (−14.3%/year) but increased in non-HIV–infected patients (+13.3%/year). Candidemia and IA incidence was increased among patients with hematologic malignancies (>+4%/year) and those with chronic renal failure (>+10%/year). In-hospital deaths substantially increased in some groups, e.g., in those with hematologic malignancies. IFIs occur among a broad spectrum of non–HIV-infected patients and should be a major public health priority.

Sporotrichosis in renal transplant patients

The current report describes two renal transplant recipients who presented with sporotrichosis. In addition, the authors review the general aspects of sporotrichosis in renal transplant recipients reported in the literature. Sporotrichosis is a rare fungal infection in transplant patients and has been reported primarily in renal transplant recipients not treated with antifungal prophylaxis. Extracutaneous forms of sporotrichosis without skin manifestations and no previous history of traumatic injuries have been described in such patients and are difficult to diagnose. Renal transplant recipients with sporotrichosis described in the present report were successfully treated with antifungal therapy including amphotericin B deoxycholate, lipid amphotericin B formulations, fluconazole and itraconazole.