Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Invasive Scopulariopsis alboflavescens infection in patient with acute myeloid leukemia

  • Case Report
  • Published:
International Journal of Hematology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Scopulariopsis alboflavescens is a soil saprophyte that is widely distributed in nature. Recently, there have been increasing number of reports of invasive infections with Scopulariopsis species in immunocompromised patients. In this report, we described an adult woman with acute myeloid leukemia and who developed S. alboflavescens pneumonia. Liposomal amphotericin B and voriconazole combination therapy was unsuccessful and the patient died because of pneumonia. Scopulariopsis is highly resistant to available antifungal agents and almost invariably fatal. This case report should alert clinicians to the importance of listing Scopulariopsis as a pathogenic fungus in immunocompromised patients.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Tosti A, Piraccini BM, Stinchi C, Lorenzi S. Onychomycosis due to Scopulariopsis brevicaulis: clinical features and response to systemic antifungals. Br J Dermatol. 1996;135:799–802.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Tosti A, Piraccini BM, Lorenzi S. Onychomycosis caused by nondermatophytic molds: clinical features and response to treatment of 59 cases. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2000;42:217–24.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Iwen PC, Schutte SD, Florescu DF, Noel-Hurst RK, Sigler L. Invasive Scopulariopsis brevicaulis infection in an immunocompromised patient and review of prior cases caused by Scopulariopsis and Microascus species. Med Mycol. 2012;50:561–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Rossier C, Hoang-Van K, Turian G. Secretion of an Mr 60000 protein by benomyl-treated cells of Neurospora crassa. Eur J Cell Biol. 1989;50:333–9.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Lai CC, Tan CK, Huang YT, Shao PL, Hsueh PR. Current challenges in the management of invasive fungal infections. J Infect Chemother. 2008;14:77–85.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Walsh TJ, Groll A, Hiemenz J, Fleming R, Roilides E, Anaissie E. Infections due to emerging and uncommon medically important fungal pathogens. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2004;10(Suppl 1):48–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Li XL, Ojaghian MR, Zhang JZ, Zhu SJ. A new species of Scopulariopsis and its synergistic effect on pathogenicity of Verticillium dahliae on cotton plants. Microbiol Res. 2017;201:12–20.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Yang Q, Wei J, Chen Z. Fatal bronchial invasion of Scopulariopsis brevicaulis in an acute monocytic leukemia patient. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2012;73:369–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Petit A, Levine E, Epaud R, Le Pointe HD, Angoulvant A. Scopulariopsis brevicaulis abscess in a child treated for myeloblastic leukaemia. Lancet Infect Dis. 2011;11:416.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Kriesel JD, Adderson EE, Gooch WM III, Pavia AT. Invasive sinonasal disease due to Scopulariopsis candida: case report and review of scopulariopsosis. Clin Infect Dis. 1994;19:317–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Pate MJ, Hemmige V, Woc-Colburn L, Restrepo A. Successful eradication of invasive Scopulariopsis brumptii in a liver transplant recipient. Transpl Infect Dis. 2016;18:275–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Neglia JP, Hurd DD, Ferrieri P, Snover DC. Invasive Scopulariopsis in the immunocompromised host. Am J Med. 1987;83:1163–6.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Krisher KK, Holdridge NB, Mustafa MM, Rinaldi MG, McGough DA. Disseminated Microascus cirrosus infection in pediatric bone marrow transplant recipient. J Clin Microbiol. 1995;33:735–7.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  14. Ellison MD, Hung RT, Harris K, Campbell BH. Report of the first case of invasive fungal sinusitis caused by Scopulariopsis acremonium: review of scopulariopsis infections. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1998;124:1014–6.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Swick BL, Reddy SC, Friedrichs A, Stone MS. Disseminated Scopulariopsis-culture is required to distinguish from other disseminated mould infections. J Cutan Pathol. 2010;37:687–91.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Steinbach WJ, Schell WA, Miller JL, Perfect JR, Martin PL. Fatal Scopulariopsis brevicaulis infection in a paediatric stem-cell transplant patient treated with voriconazole and caspofungin and a review of Scopulariopsis infections in immunocompromised patients. J Infect. 2004;48:112–6.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Ustun C, Huls G, Stewart M, Marr KA. Resistant Microascus cirrosus pneumonia can be treated with a combination of surgery, multiple anti-fungal agents and a growth factor. Mycopathologia. 2006;162:299–302.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Beltrame A, Sarmati L, Cudillo L, Cerretti R, Picardi A, Anemona L, et al. A fatal case of invasive fungal sinusitis by Scopulariopsis acremonium in a bone marrow transplant recipient. Int J Infect Dis. 2009;13:e488-92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Salmon A, Debourgogne A, Vasbien M, Clement L, Collomb J, Plenat F, et al. Disseminated Scopulariopsis brevicaulis infection in an allogeneic stem cell recipient: case report and review of the literature. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2010;16:508–12.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Szental JA, Kam JK, Yohendran J, Morrissey O, Hall AJ. Presumed Scopulariopsis brevicaulis chorioretinitis in a stem cell transplant recipient. Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2010;38:314–5.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Gavril D, Woerther PL, Ben Lakhdar A, Mahjoubi L, Routier E, Chachaty E, et al. Invasive cutaneous infection due to Scopulariopsis brevicaulis unsuccessfully treated with high-dose micafungin in a neutropenic patient. Infection. 2017;45:361–3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Jain D, Oberoi JK, Shahi SK, Shivnani G, Wattal C. Scopulariopsis brevicaulis infection of prosthetic valve resembling aspergilloma on histopathology. Cardiovasc Pathol. 2011;20:381–3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Odabasi Z, Paetznick VL, Rodriguez JR, Chen E, McGinnis MR, Ostrosky-Zeichner L. Differences in beta-glucan levels in culture supernatants of a variety of fungi. Med Mycol. 2006;44:267–72.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Sandoval-Denis M, Sutton DA, Fothergill AW, Cano-Lira J, Gene J, Decock CA, et al. Scopulariopsis, a poorly known opportunistic fungus: spectrum of species in clinical samples and in vitro responses to antifungal drugs. J Clin Microbiol. 2013;51:3937–43.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Cuenca-Estrella M, Gomez-Lopez A, Buitrago MJ, Mellado E, Garcia-Effron G, Rodriguez-Tudela JL. In vitro activities of 10 combinations of antifungal agents against the multiresistant pathogen Scopulariopsis brevicaulis. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2006;50:2248–50.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Yao L, Wan Z, Li R, Yu J. In vitro triple combination of antifungal drugs against clinical Scopulariopsis and Microascus species. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2015;59:5040–3.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Martin-Vicente A, Guarro J, Capilla J. Does a triple combination have better activity than double combinations against multiresistant fungi? Experimental in vitro evaluation. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2017;49:422–6.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Woudenberg JHC, Meijer M, Houbraken J, Samson RA. Scopulariopsis and scopulariopsis-like species from indoor environments. Stud Mycol. 2017;88:1–35.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Keiji Kurata.

Ethics declarations

Compliance with ethical standards

Conflict of interest

Authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kurata, K., Nishimura, S., Ichikawa, H. et al. Invasive Scopulariopsis alboflavescens infection in patient with acute myeloid leukemia. Int J Hematol 108, 658–664 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12185-018-2496-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12185-018-2496-1

Keywords

Navigation