Work

A fatal case of disseminated Cladophialophora bantiana infection in a renal transplant recipient

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Dematiaceous molds often cause noninvasive disease but have the potential to cause disseminated infection, particularly in immunosuppressed hosts. Cladophialophora bantiana is the most neurotropic of dematiaceous molds and is associated with brain abscesses, but disseminated infection is quite rare. Here we present a case of disseminated C. bantiana in a 67-year-old renal transplant recipient with multifocal soft tissue, bone and presumed central nervous system involvement. C. bantiana infections have been associated with significant mortality and our patient had progression of his disease despite intensive dual antifungal therapy with close therapeutic drug monitoring. There was a delay in diagnosis and initiation of antifungal therapy as the multifocal disease was presumed to represent a malignant process. This case review highlights the importance of having a high index of suspicion for disseminated fungal infection in immunocompromised patients and the need for tissue biopsy to aid in the prompt and timely diagnosis and initiation of empiric antifungal therapy, with concomitant surgical management whenever possible to improve patient outcomes.

Source: IDCases

DOI: 10.1016/j.idcr.2024.e02128

Authors: Kali Maniam, Rabeeya Sabzwari, Daniel Carlsen

Institutions: Loyola University Medical Center, Aurora BayCare Medical Center, Loyola Medicine, Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital

Language: English

Topic: Fungal Infections and Studies

Subfield: Epidemiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,150