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Infection with Scedosporium apiospermum and S. prolificans, Australia

Louise Cooley1, Denis Spelman, Karin Thursky

  • 1Alfred Hospital, Prahran, Victoria, Australia.

Emerging Infectious Diseases
|October 24, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Scedosporium apiospermum and Scedosporium prolificans are fungi causing infections, especially in immunocompromised patients. This study highlights their distinct clinical features and epidemiology in Australia.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Clinical Microbiology

Background:

  • Scedosporium apiospermum and Scedosporium prolificans are fungi with increasing clinical significance.
  • These fungi pose a particular threat to individuals with compromised immune systems or underlying health conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and analyze the clinical and epidemiological features of Scedosporium species infections in Australia.
  • To differentiate the distinct characteristics of S. apiospermum and S. prolificans based on patient data.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of medical records for 59 patients in Australia.
  • Data collection spanned from June 30, 1997, to December 31, 2003.
  • Analysis focused on species identification, clinical presentation, patient conditions, and outcomes.

Main Results:

  • S. apiospermum was primarily isolated from respiratory tracts of patients with lung disease, causing 2 infections and 1 death.
  • S. prolificans emerged after November 1999, causing invasive infections and fungemia in 8 immunocompromised patients (including those with acute myeloid leukemia and stem cell transplants), leading to 6 deaths.
  • S. prolificans caused localized infections in 2 immunocompetent individuals and respiratory colonization in 18 patients with respiratory disease, without causing fungemia or mortality in this group.

Conclusions:

  • Scedosporium species exhibit distinct clinical presentations and epidemiological patterns.
  • S. prolificans represents a significant threat to immunocompromised hosts, particularly after 1999.
  • Understanding these differences is crucial for timely diagnosis and effective management of Scedosporium infections.

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