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Fatal disseminated infection with Aspergillus terreus in immunocompromised hosts
1Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha.
Abstract:
Aspergillus terreus is widespread in the environment but only uncommonly infects humans. It can cause cutaneous and subcutaneous infections, and several cases of local invasive disease have been reported; to our knowledge, however, only five cases of disseminated disease have been documented previously. We describe here four additional patients with disseminated disease caused by A. terreus. All four had an underlying hematologic or lymphoreticular malignancy, were immunocompromised secondary to prolonged neutropenia or immunosuppressive therapy, and had invasive pulmonary disease (a circumstance supporting a respiratory route of infection). Despite treatment with amphotericin B, all four patients died. When recovered from clinical specimens, A. terreus should not routinely be dismissed as a saprobe, particularly in immunocompromised hosts.
Insights
Aspergillus terreus rarely infects humans but can cause disseminated disease in immunocompromised patients. This study reports four new cases of invasive Aspergillus terreus infection, all of which were fatal.
Area of Science:
- Medical Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
- Hematology
Background:
- Aspergillus terreus is an environmental mold with low human pathogenicity.
- Disseminated Aspergillus terreus infections are rare, with only five prior cases documented.
- Immunocompromised individuals are at higher risk for invasive fungal infections.