Pseudomembranous gastritis: a complication from aspergillus infection

Pseudomembranes in the gastrointestinal tract are usually associated with the use of antibiotics, steroids, and severe immunosuppression. Reported cases of this condition have usually been confined to the large and small bowel. We discuss a 41-year-old woman who was transferred to The University of Mississippi Medical Center for severe upper gastrointestinal bleeding after admission to an outside facility following a motor vehicle collision. Upper endoscopy revealed an antral ulcer with fungal hyphae found in the biopsy specimen. Because of her exsanguinating hemorrhage from her gastric pathology a total gastrectomy was performed. Pathological inspection of the stomach revealed a green/brown pseudomembranous gastritis throughout the entire stomach. Aspergillus cultures confirmed the etiologic agent. The patient later fell into multiorgan system failure and died. Autopsy results showed no aspergillus in other organ systems. The current literature suggests that this is the first reported case of isolated pseudomembranous gastric aspergillosis.