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ABSTRACT: Background
Viral pneumonia such as COVID-19-associated aspergillosis could increase susceptibility to fungal super-infections in critically ill patients.Methods
Here we report a pediatric case of Aspergillus quadrilineatus cerebral infection in a recently diagnosed COVID-19-positive patient underlying acute lymphocytic leukemia. Morphological, molecular methods, and sequencing were used to identify this emerging species.Results
Histopathological examination showed a granulomatous necrotic area containing dichotomously branching septate hyphae indicating a presumptive Aspergillus structure. The species-level identity of isolate growing on brain biopsy culture was confirmed by PCR sequencing of the β-tubulin gene as A. quadrilineatus. Using the CLSI M38-A3 broth microdilution methodology, the in vitro antifungal susceptibility testing demonstrated 0.032 μg/mL MIC for posaconazole, caspofungin, and anidulafungin and 8 μg/mL against amphotericin B. A combination of intravenous liposomal amphotericin B and caspofungin therapy for 8 days did not improve the patient's condition. The patient gradually continued to deteriorate and expired.Conclusions
This is the first COVID-19-associated cerebral aspergillosis due to A. quadrilineatus in a pediatric patient with acute lymphocytic leukemia. However, comprehensive screening studies are highly recommended to evaluate its frequency and antifungal susceptibility profiles. Before being recommended as first-line therapy in high-risk patients, more antifungal susceptibility data are needed.
SUBMITTER: Amirizad K
PROVIDER: S-EPMC10681513 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Amirizad Kazem K Ghazanfari Mona M Javidnia Javad J Abastabar Mahdi M Haghi Ashtiani Mohammad Taghi MT Sotoudeh Anvari Maryam M Fathi Maryam M Espahbodi Amirreza A Badali Hamid H Hedayati Mohammad Taghi MT Haghani Iman I Seyedmousavi Seyedmojtaba S
Journal of clinical laboratory analysis 20231005 19-20
<h4>Background</h4>Viral pneumonia such as COVID-19-associated aspergillosis could increase susceptibility to fungal super-infections in critically ill patients.<h4>Methods</h4>Here we report a pediatric case of Aspergillus quadrilineatus cerebral infection in a recently diagnosed COVID-19-positive patient underlying acute lymphocytic leukemia. Morphological, molecular methods, and sequencing were used to identify this emerging species.<h4>Results</h4>Histopathological examination showed a granu ...[more]