Breakthrough Scedosporium apiospermum (Pseudallescheria boydii) brain abscess during therapy for invasive pulmonary aspergillosis following high-risk allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Scedosporiasis and recent advances in antifungal therapy

Transpl Infect Dis. 2002 Dec;4(4):212-7. doi: 10.1034/j.1399-3062.2002.02008.x.

Abstract

Systemic scedosporiasis due to the anamorph or asexual form Scedosporium apiospermum (Pseudallescheria boydii) has become an important cause of opportunistic mycosis, especially in patients undergoing high-risk hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. We report a case of rapidly progressive cerebellar hyalohyphomycosis due to Scedosporium apiospermum in an allogeneic marrow graft recipient receiving treatment for severe graft-versus-host disease. This fatal breakthrough intracranial abscess, due to amphotericin B-resistant (minimum inhibitory concentration > 16 micro g/ml) mold, developed during the course of systemic antifungal therapy given for multicentric pulmonary aspergillosis. Despite treatment with high-dose Abelcet (10 mg/kg daily), free amphotericin B was not detected in postmortem cerebellar tissue. A broad-spectrum triazole-based agent (voriconazole/UK-109, 496--Vfend), and a novel fungal cell wall inhibitor, an echinocandin/pneumocandin analog (caspofungin/MK-0991--Cancidas), which exhibit excellent in vitro activity against most clinical Pseudallescheria boydii-Scedosporium apiospermum isolates, have recently become available in the United States and may provide much needed treatment options for patients at risk.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use
  • Aspergillosis, Allergic Bronchopulmonary / complications
  • Aspergillosis, Allergic Bronchopulmonary / drug therapy*
  • Brain Abscess* / complications
  • Brain Abscess* / diagnosis
  • Brain Abscess* / drug therapy
  • Brain Abscess* / etiology
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Mycetoma* / complications
  • Mycetoma* / diagnosis
  • Mycetoma* / drug therapy
  • Mycetoma* / etiology
  • Risk
  • Scedosporium / pathogenicity*
  • Transplantation, Homologous

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents