Pythium insidiosum pleuropericarditis complicating pneumonia in a child with leukemia

Clin Infect Dis. 2002 Sep 15;35(6):E60-4. doi: 10.1086/342303. Epub 2002 Aug 23.

Abstract

We describe a 12-year-old boy with acute myeloid leukemia who developed pleuropericarditis while he was neutropenic and was receiving intravenously administered antibiotic and antifungal therapy for pneumonia. A KOH preparation of the purulent material from an extensive diagnostic and therapeutic pleuropericardial drainage procedure revealed multiple irregularly septate hyphae, and cultures yielded the organism Pythium insidiosum. After completing a 12-month course of intravenously administered liposomal amphotericin B (AmBisome; Fujisawa Healthcare) and itraconazole, the patient remained alive, in clinical remission, and symptom free.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Amphotericin B / therapeutic use
  • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use
  • Child
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / complications
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / microbiology*
  • Male
  • Pericarditis / complications*
  • Pericarditis / drug therapy
  • Pericarditis / microbiology
  • Pneumonia / drug therapy
  • Pneumonia / etiology*
  • Pythium*

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Amphotericin B