Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in a critically ill neonate: case report and review of invasive aspergillosis during the first 3 months of life

Clin Infect Dis. 1998 Sep;27(3):437-52. doi: 10.1086/514717.

Abstract

We report a fatal case of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in a severely ill neonate and review 43 additional cases of invasive aspergillosis reported from 1955 through 1996 that occurred during the first 3 months of life. Eleven of the 44 patients had primary cutaneous aspergillosis, 10 had invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, and 14 had disseminated disease. Most infections were nosocomial in origin. Prematurity (43%); proven chronic granulomatous disease (14%); and a complex of diarrhea, dehydration, malnutrition, and invasive bacterial infections (23%) accounted for the majority of underlying conditions. At least 41% of the patients had received corticosteroid therapy before diagnosis, but only one patient had been neutropenic. Among patients who received medical and/or surgical treatment, outcome was relatively favorable, with an overall survival rate of 73%. Invasive aspergillosis may occur in neonates and young infants and warrants consideration under certain circumstances. Current therapeutic approaches consist of high-dose amphotericin B and appropriate surgical interventions.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amphotericin B / therapeutic use
  • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use
  • Aspergillosis / drug therapy
  • Aspergillosis / epidemiology
  • Aspergillosis / physiopathology*
  • Aspergillosis / transmission
  • Aspergillus / isolation & purification
  • Central Nervous System Diseases / etiology
  • Critical Illness
  • Cross Infection / microbiology
  • Dermatomycoses / etiology
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases / etiology
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Lung Diseases / drug therapy
  • Lung Diseases / microbiology*
  • Lung Diseases / physiopathology
  • Male

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Amphotericin B