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Mycopathologia

, Volume 184, Issue 1, pp 121–128 | Cite as

Widespread Lichtheimia Infection in a Patient with Extensive Burns: Opportunities for Novel Antifungal Agents

  • Beth K. ThielenEmail author
  • Aaron M. T. Barnes
  • Arick P. Sabin
  • Becky Huebner
  • Susan Nelson
  • Elizabeth Wesenberg
  • Glen T. Hansen
Original Paper
First Online:
  • 97 Downloads

Abstract

The Mucorales fungi—formerly classified as the zygomycetes—are environmentally ubiquitous fungi, but generally rare causes of clinical infections. In the immunocompromised host, however, they can cause invasive, rapidly spreading infections that confer a high risk of morbidity and mortality, often despite surgical and antifungal therapy. Patients with extensive burn injuries are particularly susceptible to skin and soft-tissue infections with these organisms. Here, we present a case of Lichtheimia infection in a patient with extensive full-thickness burns that required significant and repeated surgical debridement successfully treated with isavuconazole and adjunctive topical amphotericin B washes. We also review the available literature on contemporary antifungal treatment for Lichtheimia species and related Mucorales fungi.

Keywords

Lichtheimia Isavuconazole Burn Absidia Mucorales 
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Notes

Compliance with Ethical Standards

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Copyright information

© Springer Nature B.V. 2018

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of Medicine (Division of Infectious Diseases and International Medicine)University of Minnesota School of MedicineMinneapolisUSA
  2. 2.Department of Pediatrics (Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology)University of Minnesota School of MedicineMinneapolisUSA
  3. 3.Department of Laboratory Medicine and PathologyUniversity of Minnesota School of MedicineMinneapolisUSA
  4. 4.Department of Microbiology & ImmunologyUniversity of Minnesota School of MedicineMinneapolisUSA
  5. 5.Department of Pathology & Laboratory MedicineHennepin County Medical CenterMinneapolisUSA

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