Systemic Fusariosis: A Rare Complication in Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
<i>Fusarium</i> species are ubiquitous pathogens causing opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients. Clinical presentation depends on a host’s immunity and can be localized or disseminated. Since there are few reports of disseminated fusariosis in children, we described an un...
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MDPI AG
2020-10-01
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| Series: | Journal of Fungi |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/6/4/212 |
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| author | Giada Biddeci Daniele Donà Giulia Geranio Silvia Spadini Maria Grazia Petris Marta Pillon Alessandra Biffi Maria Caterina Putti |
| author_facet | Giada Biddeci Daniele Donà Giulia Geranio Silvia Spadini Maria Grazia Petris Marta Pillon Alessandra Biffi Maria Caterina Putti |
| author_sort | Giada Biddeci |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Fusarium</i> species are ubiquitous pathogens causing opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients. Clinical presentation depends on a host’s immunity and can be localized or disseminated. Since there are few reports of disseminated fusariosis in children, we described an unusual case of <i>Fusarium solani</i> infection in a 9-year-old child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). This patient presented a deep wound in the elbow at diagnosis. During the induction phase of chemotherapy, he developed multiple skin lesions and severe pneumonia; <i>Fusarium solani</i> was cultured from the skin lesions. He was treated with a high dose of liposomal amphotericin B, followed by voriconazole. Starting from this peculiar case, we collected all patients with acute leukemia affected by <i>Fusarium</i> infection, treated in the pediatric Onco-Hematology Division of Padua University Hospital during the last 20 years. We identified another six cases: all these patients were affected by acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and five of them presented a relapsed/refractory disease. Two out of seven patients died because of infection; five patients recovered from infection, but three out of seven died because of leukemia. Skin lesions in immunocompromised patients should rise the suspicion of disseminated fusariosis. Furthermore, considering the emergence of filamentous fungi in immunocompromised patients, we all should be aware of <i>Fusarium</i> infection, reminding us that the diagnosis is important to cure the infection. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:46:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b92884075b33451eb2f288563bcccd58 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2309-608X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:46:02Z |
| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Fungi |
| spelling | doaj.art-b92884075b33451eb2f288563bcccd582023-11-20T16:28:07ZengMDPI AGJournal of Fungi2309-608X2020-10-016421210.3390/jof6040212Systemic Fusariosis: A Rare Complication in Children with Acute Lymphoblastic LeukemiaGiada Biddeci0Daniele Donà1Giulia Geranio2Silvia Spadini3Maria Grazia Petris4Marta Pillon5Alessandra Biffi6Maria Caterina Putti7Maternal and Child Health Department, Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation Division, Padua University Hospital, 35128 Padua, ItalyMaternal and Child Health Department, Pediatric Infectious Disease Division, Padua University Hospital, 35128 Padua, ItalyMaternal and Child Health Department, Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation Division, Padua University Hospital, 35128 Padua, ItalyMaternal and Child Health Department, Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation Division, Padua University Hospital, 35128 Padua, ItalyMaternal and Child Health Department, Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation Division, Padua University Hospital, 35128 Padua, ItalyMaternal and Child Health Department, Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation Division, Padua University Hospital, 35128 Padua, ItalyMaternal and Child Health Department, Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation Division, Padua University Hospital, 35128 Padua, ItalyMaternal and Child Health Department, Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation Division, Padua University Hospital, 35128 Padua, Italy<i>Fusarium</i> species are ubiquitous pathogens causing opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients. Clinical presentation depends on a host’s immunity and can be localized or disseminated. Since there are few reports of disseminated fusariosis in children, we described an unusual case of <i>Fusarium solani</i> infection in a 9-year-old child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). This patient presented a deep wound in the elbow at diagnosis. During the induction phase of chemotherapy, he developed multiple skin lesions and severe pneumonia; <i>Fusarium solani</i> was cultured from the skin lesions. He was treated with a high dose of liposomal amphotericin B, followed by voriconazole. Starting from this peculiar case, we collected all patients with acute leukemia affected by <i>Fusarium</i> infection, treated in the pediatric Onco-Hematology Division of Padua University Hospital during the last 20 years. We identified another six cases: all these patients were affected by acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and five of them presented a relapsed/refractory disease. Two out of seven patients died because of infection; five patients recovered from infection, but three out of seven died because of leukemia. Skin lesions in immunocompromised patients should rise the suspicion of disseminated fusariosis. Furthermore, considering the emergence of filamentous fungi in immunocompromised patients, we all should be aware of <i>Fusarium</i> infection, reminding us that the diagnosis is important to cure the infection.https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/6/4/212leukemiaFusarium infectionmycosis |
| spellingShingle | Giada Biddeci Daniele Donà Giulia Geranio Silvia Spadini Maria Grazia Petris Marta Pillon Alessandra Biffi Maria Caterina Putti Systemic Fusariosis: A Rare Complication in Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Journal of Fungi leukemia Fusarium infection mycosis |
| title | Systemic Fusariosis: A Rare Complication in Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia |
| title_full | Systemic Fusariosis: A Rare Complication in Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia |
| title_fullStr | Systemic Fusariosis: A Rare Complication in Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Systemic Fusariosis: A Rare Complication in Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia |
| title_short | Systemic Fusariosis: A Rare Complication in Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia |
| title_sort | systemic fusariosis a rare complication in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia |
| topic | leukemia Fusarium infection mycosis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/6/4/212 |
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