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Updated: Jul 27, 2026

Detection of Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Haematological Malignancy Patients by using Lateral-flow Technology
Published on: March 22, 2012
First Reported Case of Invasive Cutaneous Penicillium cluniae Infection in a Patient With Acute Myelogenous Leukemia:
Devanshi Mehta1, Samuel A Hofacker1, Julian A Villalba2
1Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Abstract:
Certain Penicillium species are emerging opportunistic pathogens. While these can be common causes of airborne contamination of clinical cultures, an increasing number of reports describe clinically significant disease in the immunocompromised population, particularly in patients with hematologic malignancy. The typical site of infection is respiratory, but disseminated infection is also reported with some frequency. Therefore, culture growth of Penicillium in respiratory and other clinical samples from immunocompromised patients requires thorough investigation with clinical correlation. Here we report a case of angioinvasive Penicillium cluniae infection of the right shin in a patient with acute myeloid leukemia and review reported cases of invasive Penicillium infection (excluding Talaromyces marneffei) in hematologic malignancy patients to characterize the emerging pathogen in this vulnerable population.
Insights
Certain Penicillium species are opportunistic pathogens causing significant disease in immunocompromised patients, particularly those with hematologic malignancy. This study investigates invasive Penicillium infections in this vulnerable group.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
- Hematology
Background:
- * Emerging opportunistic fungal pathogen, Penicillium species cause significant disease in immunocompromised individuals.
- * Hematologic malignancy patients are particularly vulnerable to invasive fungal infections.
- * While respiratory infections are common, disseminated disease also occurs.

