Invasive Curvularia Infection in Pediatric Patients With Hematologic Malignancy Identified by Fungal Sequencing

Area of Science:

• Mycology
• Infectious Diseases
• Medical Mycology

Background:

• Curvularia species are dematiaceous molds, typically saprophytic, but occasionally act as human pathogens.
• Invasive infections caused by Curvularia are rare, particularly in pediatric populations.
• There is a lack of established treatment guidelines for invasive Curvularia infections.

Observation:

• Three severely immunocompromised pediatric patients presented with invasive Curvularia infection.
• Diagnosis was confirmed using fungal ribosome sequencing, enabling timely species identification.
• Patients received a combination of surgical resection and antifungal therapies.

Findings:

• Fungal ribosome sequencing facilitated rapid and accurate species identification, guiding targeted treatment.
• All three pediatric patients achieved a cure from their invasive Curvularia infections.
• The treatment regimen involved surgical intervention and varied antifungal agents.

Implications:

• This study highlights the utility of fungal ribosome sequencing in diagnosing rare fungal infections.
• Successful treatment outcomes suggest Curvularia may have relatively low virulence compared to other angioinvasive molds.
• The findings provide valuable insights into managing invasive Curvularia infections in immunocompromised children, indicating a favorable prognosis.