Breakthrough Hormographiella aspergillata infections arising in neutropenic patients treated empirically with caspofungin.

ABSTRACT: Hormographiella aspergillata, a filamentous basidiomycete, has rarely been involved in human infections. We describe 2 febrile neutropenic patients who developed a severe pulmonary infection due to H. aspergillata while receiving empirical caspofungin therapy for presumed fungal pneumonia. After introduction of liposomal amphotericin B, one patient, who had neutrophil recovery, presented a favorable outcome, while the other, who remained neutropenic throughout the course of infection, died. Resistant fungi, including basidiomycetes, may emerge during empirical treatment with caspofungin in febrile neutropenic patients. A rapid switch to any other potent antifungal should be rapidly considered in case of failure of caspofungin in this setting.

SUBMITTER: Suarez F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3020423 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature