Fatal course of Saprochaete capitata fungemia in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2017 Mar;34(2):66-72. doi: 10.1080/08880018.2017.1316808. Epub 2017 Jun 2.

Abstract

Saprochaete capitata (S. capitata) is a very rare fungal pathogen that causes disseminated opportunistic infections in patients with hematologic malignancies. Fever resistant to broad-spectrum antibiotic and antifungal treatment is common in the presence of fungemia during the period of profound neutropenia. We describe three cases of leukemic children who died from S. capitata fungemia following a first febrile neutropenic episode after the induction of chemotherapy. S. capitata fungemia is an emergent infection associated with high mortality and low susceptibility to fluconazole and echinocandins. Awareness of this emergent infection is needed to ensure that it can be properly treated.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Echinocandins / administration & dosage*
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Fluconazole / administration & dosage*
  • Fungemia* / chemically induced
  • Fungemia* / drug therapy
  • Fungemia* / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Induction Chemotherapy / adverse effects*
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma* / drug therapy
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma* / microbiology
  • Saccharomycetales*

Substances

  • Echinocandins
  • Fluconazole