Abstract
A 56-year-old dairy farmer received a fully HLA matched unrelated donor marrow transplant for high risk CML in chronic phase. His early post-transplant course was complicated by a series of massive intracerebral bleeds and by sepsis related to a malignant otitis externa. The microbial pathogen isolated from ear swabs was found to be Absidia corymbifera, but CT scan at the time showed no intracerebral extension. Despite neutrophil engraftment and aggressive antifungal management he succumbed. Autopsy revealed invasion of Absidia into the brain from the ear. We speculate that colonisation by Absidia resulted from occupational exposure. Bone Marrow Transplantation (2000) 26, 701–703.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
$259.00 per year
only $21.58 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Sugar AM . Mucormycosis Clin Infect Dis 1992 14: S126–S129
Morrison VA, McGlave PB . Mucormycosis in the BMT population Bone Marrow Transplant 1993 11: 383–388
Pagano L, Ricci P, Tonso A et al. Mucormycosis in patients with haemtological malignancies: a retrospective clinical study of 37 cases. GIMEMA Infection Program Br J Haematol 1997 99: 331–336
Nenoff P, Kellerman S, Schober R et al. Rhinocerebral zygomycosis following bone marrow transplantation in chronic myeologenous leukaemia. Report of a case and review of the literature Mycoses 1998 41: 365–372
Olalla I, Ortin M, Hermida G et al. Autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation in a patient with previous invasive middle ear mucormycosis Bone Marrow Transplant 1996 18: 1183–1184
Hanhela R, Louhelainen K, Pasanen AL . Prevalence of microfungi in Finnish cow barns and some aspects of the occurrence of Wallemia sebi and Fusaria Scand J Work Environ Health 1995 21: 223–228
Gordon G, Indeck M, Bross J et al. Injury from silage wagon accident complicated by mucormycosis J Trauma 1988 28: 866–867
Marshall DH, Brownstein S, Jackson WB et al. Post-traumatic corneal mucormycosis caused by Absidia corymbifera Ophthalmology 1997 104: 1107–1111
Aisner J, Murillo J, Schimpff SC, Steere AC . Invasive aspergillosis in acute leukaemia: correlation with nose cultures and antibiotic use Ann Intern Med 1979 90: 4–9
Gerson SL, Talbot GH, Hurwitz S et al. Prolonged granulocytopenia: the major risk factor for invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in patients with acute leukaemia Ann Intern Med 1984 100: 345–351
Tedder M, Spratt JA, Anstadt MP et al. Pulmonary mucormycosis: results of medical and surgical therapy Ann Thorac Surg 1994 57: 1044–1050
Acknowledgements
We are grateful to Dr M Jarmulowicz, Consultant Pathologist, for the photographs of post-mortem material and to the nursing staff of Compston Ward.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Paterson, P., Marshall, S., Shaw, B. et al. Fatal invasive cerebral Absidia corymbifera infection following bone marrow transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplant 26, 701–703 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bmt.1702575
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bmt.1702575
Keywords
This article is cited by
-
Primary Cutaneous Mucormycosis in a Patient with Burn Wounds Due to Lichtheimia ramosa
Mycopathologia (2014)
-
Mucormycosis of the Head and Neck
Current Infectious Disease Reports (2011)
-
Septic Arthritis due to Absidia corymbifera in a Patient with HIV-1 Infection
Infection (2008)
