A case of Schizophyllum commune sinusitis following unrelated cord blood transplantation for acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Int J Hematol. 2013 Aug;98(2):261-3. doi: 10.1007/s12185-013-1362-4. Epub 2013 May 18.

Abstract

Schizophyllum commune is a globally distributed basidiomycete fungus that is known as a rare cause of sinusitis, for which no prompt treatment has been established. We describe the first report of S. commune sinusitis following unrelated cord blood transplantation for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Thirteen days after transplantation, a 23-year-old female developed maxillary and ethmoid sinusitis. The sinusitis was antimicrobial-resistant, and the sinus aspirate culture revealed white wooly mold, which was identified as S. commune by nucleotide sequencing. The patient was successfully treated with intravenous administration of liposomal amphotericin B for 2 months, followed by oral voriconazole. This report suggests the effectiveness of liposomal amphotericin B and voriconazole for S. commune infection in immunocompromised patients. Given the difficulty in distinguishing S. commune infection from aspergillosis by standard culture methods, the incidence of S. commune infection following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation may be underestimated. Nucleotide sequencing may be useful in the diagnosis of S. commune infection.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Allografts
  • Amphotericin B / administration & dosage*
  • Antifungal Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation
  • Ethmoid Sinusitis / diagnosis
  • Ethmoid Sinusitis / drug therapy*
  • Ethmoid Sinusitis / etiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Maxillary Sinusitis / diagnosis
  • Maxillary Sinusitis / drug therapy*
  • Maxillary Sinusitis / etiology
  • Mycoses / diagnosis
  • Mycoses / drug therapy*
  • Mycoses / etiology
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / therapy*
  • Schizophyllum*

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • liposomal amphotericin B
  • Amphotericin B