Systemic infections with Trichosporon beigelii (cutaneum). Report of three new cases

Three new cases of systemic mycosis due to Trichosporon cutaneum are reported and compared with the 23 previous reports. Two patients had acute leukemia and one patient had a lymphoblastic lymphoma. Blood cultures in two patients and cerebrospinal fluid in the third patient were positive for T. cutaneum. Only one patient recovered after antimycotic therapy and concomitant remission of his leukemia. At autopsy, the two other patients showed widespread infection with T. cutaneum. The authors conclude that diagnosis and management of such infection in the immunosuppressed host are difficult and the prognosis is poor.