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Disseminated Geotrichum infection
1Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur.
The Medical Journal of Malaysia
|December 1, 1994
Summary
Intensive chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia can lead to rare fungal infections. This case highlights successful treatment of Geotrichum candidum fungemia with amphotericin B in an immunocompromised child.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Hematology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Intensive chemotherapy regimens improve survival rates for cancer patients, particularly those with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
- Immunocompromised states resulting from chemotherapy increase susceptibility to opportunistic infections, including rare fungal infections.
Observation:
- A young female patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia developed fungal septicemia.
- The causative agent was identified as Geotrichum candidum, an imperfect yeast typically considered of low virulence.
Findings:
- The case details the morphological characteristics of Geotrichum candidum that aided in its identification.
- Successful treatment of the fungal septicemia was achieved using amphotericin B, a standard antifungal medication.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of considering unusual pathogens in immunocompromised patients, even those with low virulence.
- Effective management strategies, such as amphotericin B therapy, can be employed for rare fungal infections in pediatric cancer patients.
- Further research into the pathogenicity of Geotrichum candidum in immunocompromised hosts may be warranted.