Two cases of disseminated Trichosporon beigelii infection treated with combination antifungal therapy

Two patients with acute leukemia in whom disseminated Trichosporon beigelii infection developed are reported. The T. beigelii infection developed in the first patient while he was receiving 5-fluorocytosine. He was treated with amphotericin B in addition to 5-fluorocytosine. Despite the continued antifungal therapy, multiple organs were invaded by the organisms at autopsy. The second patient was treated with miconazole and norfloxacin. Although this combination antifungal therapy seemed to be effective, this patient required splenectomy for cure of the infection.     

Disseminated infection with Trichosporon asahii

Summary. Trichosporon fungaemia and disseminated, purpuric, papular skin lesions developed on the head, trunk and extremities of a 5-year-old female with acute lymphocytic leukaemia. Histopathologically, the skin lesions demonstrated dermal budding yeasts. She died despite treatment with antifungal drugs. The isolate from the blood was further identified morphologically and physiologically as Trichosporon asahii , based on the revision of the genus Trichosporon by Guého et al. (1992). According to the new revision. T. asahii is the only taxon regularly involved in systemic mycoses, so that most of the isolates previously reported as T. beigelii (formerly, T. cutaneum ) in human deep mycoses are now thought to belong to T. asahii.
Zusammenfassung. Bei einem fünfjährigen Mädchen mit akuter lymphatischer Leukämie entwickelte sich eine Trichosporon -Fungämie mit disse-minierten, papulösen Hautläsionen und Purpura an Kopf, Stamm und Extremitäten. Histopathologisch wurden in den Hautläsionen sprossende Hefezellen nachgewiesen. Die Patientin verstarb trotz antimykotischer Chemotherapie. Der aus dem Blut isolierte Erreger wurde als Trichosporon asahii identifiziert. Im von Guého et al. revidierten Genus Trichosporon ist T. asahii die einzige Art, die regelmäßig an der Entstehung systemischer Mykosen beteiligt ist. Die meisten der bisher aus tiefen Mykosen des Menschen isolierten Trichosporon -Stämme, die früher als T. beigelii bzw. T. cutaneum bezeichnet wurden, werden nunmehr als zu T. asahii gehörend angesehen.     

The aetiological agents of superficial cutaneous mycoses in Jos, Plateau State of Nigeria

Summary. A survey of superficial skin mycoses was carried out among miners and office workers employed in different establishments in Jos, Nigeria. Mycotic infection was demonstrable by microscopy and culture in 45 (10.4%) subjects: 20 males and 25 females. Malassezia furfur was the predominant aetiological agent, followed by Candida albicans andTrichophyton soudanense. Other aetiological agents frequently recovered were T. rubrum., T. mentagrophytes., Microsporum audouiniiand Trichosporon beigelii.
ZUSAMMENFASSUNG. An Grubenarbeitern und Büropersonal, in verschiedenen Einrichtungen in Jos, Nigeria, beschäftigt, wurde eine Studie über oberflächliche Hautmykosen durchgeführt. Mikroskopisch und kulturell wurden bei 45 Personen (10.4%) Pilzinfektionen nachgewiesen, davon bei 20 Mänern und 25 Frauen. Malassezia furfur war das dominierende ätiologische Agens, gefolgt von Candida albicans und Trichophyton soudanense . Andere, weniger häufig gefundene Erreger waren T. rubrum, T. mentagrophytes, Microsporum audouinii und Trichosporon beigelii .     

Invasive Trichosporon beigelii infection in immunosuppressed rats

Summary. Fulminant systemic mycoses were seen as complications in rats undergoing drug trials for the treatment of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. Rats were immunosuppressed with corticosteroids and by feeding with a low-protein diet. Homogenized pulmonary tissue from a rat with pneumocystosis was inoculated transtracheally. Secondary invasive mycosis was found in 56 of 59 rats examined. Trichosporon beigelii was identified as the causative agent in the majority of cases. After examining possible sources of infection, a Pneumocystis inoculum contaminated with fungi was found to be the obvious source. T. beigelii infections are becoming increasingly significant in immunocompromised human patients. The need for suitable and reproducible animal models is therefore also increasing. Observations described in this paper may help in the further development of such models.
Zusammenfassung. In einem Versuchsansatz, in dem am Rattenmodell der Pneumocystis carinii -Pneumonie neue Medikamente getestet werden sollten, traten als unerwartete Komplikationen fulminant verlaufende Systemmykosen auf. Bei 56 von 59 untersuchten Ratten, die durch Kortisonbehandlung und mittels einer proteinarmen Diät immunsupprimiert wurden und denen transtracheal ein Lungenhomogenat von einer Pneumocystosis-erkrankten Ratte inokuliert worden war, bildeten sich sekundär invasive Mykosen aus. Überwiegend konnte Trichosporon beigelii als verursachender Keim identifiziert werden. Wie die Überprüfung möglicher Infektionsquellen ergab, waren die Pilze offensichtlich durch kontaminiertes Inokulum übertragen worden. T. beigelii -Infektionen gewinnen bei Patienten mit Abwehrschwächen zunehmend an Bedeutung und folglich auch der Bedarf an geeigneten und reproduzierbaren Tiermodellen, für deren Entwicklung die hier beschriebenen Beobachtungen eine weiterführende Chance bieten.     

Postoperative Trichosporon beigelii soft tissue infection

A case of postsurgical cutaneous infection with Trichosporon beigelii in an apparently immunocompetent individual is reported. This is a rare surgical complication and the first report of localized skin infection by this organism postoperatively.     

Role of surveillance cultures in prevention and treatment of fungal infections

Fungal surveillance cultures have been studied as potential predictors of invasive or disseminated mycoses. Several studies have demonstrated that the presence of Candida tropicalis in mucosal surveillance cultures has a high predictive value for invasive fungal infection due to this pathogen in granulocytopenic patients. By comparison, surveillance cultures for Candida albicans have a poor positive predictive value for invasive fungal infection. The value of routine surveillance cultures of the nares for Aspergillus spp. has not been consistently confirmed. The use of surveillance cultures for less common fungal pathogens, such as Trichosporon beigelii, also remains unclear. Fungal surveillance cultures of the inanimate hospital environment have proven useful in identifying the source of conidia in well-defined clusters or outbreaks of nosocomial aspergillosis and other mycoses. As investigational tools, fungal surveillance cultures also may be useful for studying the effects of new antifungal agents on mucosal flora. Fungal surveillance cultures, especially for C. tropicalis and possibly Aspergillus spp. in high-risk populations, may be useful when a pathogen-directed approach to antifungal therapy is used. However, the time required, diagnostic limitations, and expense of routine mucosal fungal surveillance cultures must be balanced against the effect of this information on therapeutic decisions. Empirical antifungal therapy and early diagnostic approaches for high-risk patients may obviate the need for routine fungal surveillance cultures while decreasing the frequency of invasive mycoses.     

Effect of culture media on in vitro susceptibility testing of fluconazole against some yeasts

Thirty clinical isolates, comprising six strains of Candida albicans, and four strains each of C. lusitaniae, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, Cryptococcus neoformans, Torulopsis glabrata and Trichosporon beigelii were tested against fluconazole, using Sabouraud's dextrose (SD) broth and a high resolution (HR) medium (Pfizer Central Research, Inc.). The procedure was a standard tube (1 ml/tube) dilution, and C. albicans Y01 09 was included as a reference strain to monitor quality and reproducibility. Results indicated that the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for all isolates of C. albicans, C. lusitaniae, C. tropicalis, and Tr. beigelii were 100 micrograms ml-1 or greater in the SD medium. In the HR medium, however, the MICs for two isolates of C. albicans were 1.56 micrograms ml-1, in other four gave higher values (greater than 100 micrograms ml-1), and the results for C. lusitaniae and Tr. beigelii were in the range 1.56-3.12 micrograms ml-1. The MICs for C. tropicalis were unaffected (100 micrograms ml-1) by the medium used. All Cr. neoformans isolates yielded a uniform value (1.56 micrograms ml-1) in HR medium as compared to somewhat more variable results (MICs 0.39-1.56 micrograms ml-1) in SD broth. The MICs for T. glabrata in the SD and HR media were 3.12-12.5 and 6.25 micrograms ml-1, respectively. The data indicated that the HR medium is preferable for the in vitro susceptibility testing of C. albicans, C. lusitaniae and Tr. beigelii to fluconazole. The MICs for other yeasts were not affected by the culture medium. The reference C. albicans isolate yielded an MIC of 1.56 micrograms ml-1 throughout.     

Trichosporon beigelii: Increased Occurrence in Homosexual Men: Trichosporon beigelii: Erhöhtes Vorkommen unter homosexuellen Männern

Summary: Trichosporon beigelii was isolated from rectal cultures in 45 of 290 homosexual men (15.5%), compared to four positive cultures in 161 heterosexual men (2.5%). A sexual transmission in homosexual men may explain the statistically significant difference in the frequencies of isolation of Trichosporon beigelii.
Zusammenfassung: Trichosporon beigelii wurde in Kulturen von Rektalabstrichen bei 45 aus 290 homosexuellen Männern isoliert (15.5%), dies im Vergleich zu vier positiven Kulturen von 161 heterosexuellen Männern (2.5%). Eine sexuelle Übertragung unter homosexuellen Männem könnte den statistisch signifikanten Unterschied in der Häufigkeit des Vorkommens von Trichosporon beigelii erklären.     

Chronic meningitis caused by Trichosporon beigelii in India

Summary. A 36-year-old woman developed fatal meningitis following a myelogram. Trichosporon beigelii could be grown from the cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) on two occasions. This represents the first culture-proven case of meningitis due to Trichosporon beigelii .
Zusammenfassung. Nach Erhebung eines Myelogramms entwickelte eine 36-Jahre alte Frau eine tödliche Meningitis. Aus dem Liquor konnte zweimal Trichosporon beigelii isoliert werden. Dies stellt die erste kulturell gesicherte Trichosporon beigelii -Meningitis dar.     

Colonization of a bovine burn wound by Trichosporon beigelii.

Trichosporon beigelii, an emerging opportunistically zoopathogenic fungus, was demonstrated both by culture and by direct microscopy in the chronic, ulcerated burn wound of a 3-month-old Jersey cow. The fungus was probably limited to the cutaneous tissues since it was not isolated from blood, urine or faeces, nor from nasal, eye or ear swabs. It is suggested that etiological significance of Tr. beigelii should be considered when the organism is isolated from animals that are immunosuppressed either due to some underlying disease or due to the prolonged use of cytotoxic drugs.     

Trichosporon beigelii Infection in an Immunocompromised Host Trichosporon beigelii-Infektion bei einem abwehrgeschwächten Wirt

Summary: A case of Trichosporon beigelii infection in a patient with non-Hodgkins lymphoma that illustrates some of the associated diagnostic and chemotherapeutic problems, is described. Despite prolonged isolation of the yeast from blood cultures, the patient recovered from the infection after treatment with amphotericin B and flucytosine. Presenting features, diagnosis and monitoring of antifungal therapy in renal failure are discussed.
Zusammenfassung: An einer Trichosporon beigelii- Infektion bei einem Patienten mit Non-Hodgkin-Lymphom werden einige diagnostische und therapeutische Proble-me aufgezeigt. Trotz wiederholter Isolie-rung der Hefe aus Blutkulturen erholte sich der Patient unter einer Therapie mit Amphotericin B und Flucytosin. Symptomatik, Diagnose und das Vorgehen bei der antimy-kotischen Therapie unter Nierenversagen werden diskutiert.     

Isoconazole nitrate in the treatment of tropical dermatomycoses

Summary. A total of 54 patients with culturally proven tropical dermatomycoses, comprising 23 with various types of dermatophytoses, one with foot infection due to Trichosporon beigelii and one with foot infection due to Geotrichum candidum , two with candidoses of the groin and 27 with pityriasis versicolor, were included in a clinical trial of efficacy of 1% isoconazole cream (Travogen^R, Schering, Berlin, Germany). Five patients were not evaluable. A clinical and mycological cure was achieved in 29 cases in 3–4 weeks. In 15 (31%) of the remaining patients treatment was required for 5–6 weeks, while another three patients required treatment for 8 weeks. In two patients the disease proved to be resistant to treatment with the drug.
Zusammenfassung. Insgesamt 54 Patienten mit kulturell gesicherter Dermatomykose, (23 unterschiedliche Dermatophytosen, eine Trichosporon beigelii - und eine Geotrichum candidum -Fußinfektion, 2 Candidosen der Leistengegend und 27 Pityriasis versicolor) wurden in einer klinischen Wirksamkeits-studie mit 1% iger Isoconazol-Creme (Travogen^R, Schering, Berlin, Deutschland) behandelt. Fünf Patienten waren nicht auswertbar. Eine klinische und mykologische Heilung wurde bei 47 von 49 Patienten (96%) erreicht. Bei 29 patienten (59%) wurde die Heilung bereits nach 3–4 Wochen Behandlung erreicht. Weitere 15 Patienten (31%) benötigten 5–6 Wochen und drei Patienten 8 Wochen Behandlungsdauer. Zwei Mykosesituationen erwiesen sich als therapieresistent.     

Gastric cytomegalovirus infection in bone marrow transplant patients: an indication of generalized disease

Cytomegalovirus infection in immunosuppressed patients is well known. It usually appears as an interstitial pneumonitis that may progress to a disseminated viral infection. The authors report on two patients who, after bone marrow transplantation, had signs and symptoms of gastric ulceration as the initial manifestation of cytomegalovirus infection. Both died with disseminated cytomegalovirus infection. Though gastric presentation is unusual for cytomegalovirus infection, epigastric pain and gastrointestinal hemorrhage in a bone marrow transplant patient may herald a potentially lethal viral infection.     

Trichosporon beigelii als Erreger einer Paronychie:Paronychia Caused by Trichosporon beigelii

Zusammenfassung: Es wird über eine chronische Paronychie der Fingernägel berichtet. Als Erreger wurde Trichosporon beigelii Küchenmeister et Rabenhorst Vuillemin, 1902 isoliert Temperaturmaximum 37°C. Im Nativpräparat wurden massenhaft Sporen gefunden. Die Mikromorphologie wird besprochen; die Art ist leichtzu bestimmen, wenn es in der Altkultur zu Chlamydosporenbildung kommt. Therapeutisch wird die Anwendung von Ketoconazol 200 mg/die und Ciclopiroxolamin-Creme empfohlen.
Summary: A case of a chronic paronychia of fingernails caused by Trichosporon beigelii Küchenmeister et Rabenhorst Vuillemin, 1902 maximum of temperature 37°C is reported. In the potassium hydroxide KOH preparation spores could be found in large quantities. The micro-morphology is discussed; the species can easily be determined if chlamydospores develop in older cultures. Therapy with ketoconazole 200 mgldaily and ciclopiroxolamine cream is recommended.     

Sulconazole in the therapy of dermatomycoses in Nigeria

Summary. A 1% cream of sulconazole nitrate, an imidazole derivative, was used to treat 38 patients with diverse clinical types of dermatomycoses, including 16 cases of pityriasis versicolor, 14 of dermatophytosis (tinea pedis, tinea cruris, tinea corporis), two of balanoposthitis due to Candida albicans , another two of candidosis of the groin, one each of groin and foot infection due to Trichosporon beigelii and one case each of lesions of the hand and trunk caused by Pétriellidium boydii and Scytalidium hyalinum respectively. A complete cure was achieved in 91% of patients, with resolution of the lesions in the majority within 2–4 weeks. There were only two relapses. Sulconazole is recommended as an effective drug for topical treatment of superficial fungal infections of the skin.
Zusammenfassung. Sulconazolnitrat wurde als 1%ige Creme zur topischen Therapie an 38 Dermatomykose-Patienten eingesetzt. Darunter waren 16 Fälle von Pityriasis versicolor, 14 Dermatophytosen (Tinea pedis, Tinea cruris, Tinea corporis), 2 Fälle von Balanoposthitis bedingt durch Candida albicans , 2 Candidosen der Leistenbeuge, 2 Trichosporon beigelii -Infektionen je an Leistenbeuge und Fuß und je eine Infektion durch Petriellidium boydii und Scytalidium hyalinum an Hand und Stamm. Bei 91% der Patienten wurde vollständige Heilung erzielt, in der Mehrzahl der Patienten bereits nach 2 bis 4 Wochen. Zwei Rückfälle wurden beobachtet. Sulconazol wird als wirksames Therapeutikum für die topische Behandlung oberflächlicher Pilzinfektionen auf der Haut empfohlen.     

Epstein-Barr virus induced virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome and monoclonal TCR-beta rearrangement: a case report

Virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome (VAHS) is a rare histiocytic proliferative disorder secondary to viral infection affecting children and young adults and in which there is both a poor prognosis and no specific treatment. We report a case of VAHS in a 22-year-old woman secondary to infection with Epstein Barr virus in which multiorgan failure developed with a fatal outcome 3 weeks after presentation. Clonal analysis showed EBV incorporation into the T cell genome accompanied by monoclonal rearrangement of the TCR beta gene. Treatment with cyclosporin A resulted in hematological improvement but the patient died of disseminated fungal infection. We propose that bone marrow ablation and allografting should be available for these rare cases and suggest that a protocol should be developed with designated transplant centres to aid early referral. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

儿童白血病化疗后合并播散性曲霉菌病三例并文献复习

目的 探讨儿童白血病化疗后合并播散性曲霉菌病的临床特征、诊断、治疗及预后.方法 回顾性分析3例白血病化疗后合并播散性曲霉菌病患儿的临床特征及诊治过程.结果3例患儿的基础疾病均为白血病,存在多个侵袭性真菌病的高危因素,临床特征包括:反复发热而抗生素治疗无效,皮下硬性结节,肺部CT提示结节影、空洞,磁共振成像提示肝、脾、肾散在低密度灶(T2加权),血清半乳甘露聚糖(GM)试验阳性,均通过病理组织学检查确诊.确诊后,2例予两性霉素B脂质体抗真菌治疗超过4周,并在临床症状好转、中性粒细胞恢复及影像学提示病灶好转或无进展情况下恢复化疗,同时予口服伏立康唑维持治疗,随访6~12个月,播散性曲霉菌病达治愈标准.1例白血病持续完全缓解,截至随访结束仍生存;1例因家属要求暂停化疗,白血病复发死亡;1例因治疗无效或严重药物不良反应,多次调整抗真菌治疗方案后感染仍无法控制,且因长时间暂停化疗,白血病复发,最终死亡.结论 白血病患儿化疗后反复发热,并有多发皮下硬性结节、肺部结节或空洞、肝脾肾散发性低密度灶、GM试验阳性,应考虑合并播散性曲霉菌病.有效且足疗程的抗真菌治疗,并在适当时机兼顾化疗,有望改善患者预后.     

Does the presence of mediastinal adenopathy confer a risk for disseminated infection in immunocompetent persons with pulmonary coccidioidomycosis?

Pulmonary coccidioidomycosis is caused by inhaling airborne arthroconidia of Coccidioides, a soil‐dwelling fungus endemic to the desert southwestern United States. Although uncommon, disseminated coccidioidal infection can be associated with well‐defined risk factors, such as cell‐mediated immunodeficiency, certain racial heritages (e.g. African or Filipino), male sex, or pregnancy. Before widespread use of computed tomography (CT), the presence or persistence of mediastinal lymphadenopathy was postulated to be a risk factor for disseminated coccidioidal infection. To investigate the use of CT scanning to identify the presence of mediastinal lymphadenopathy in patients with pulmonary coccidioidomycosis, and to correlate such lymphadenopathy with disseminated coccidioidal infection, we performed a retrospective review of patients with pulmonary coccidioidomycosis who were evaluated by chest CT. Two radiologists independently interpreted 150 CT scans from patients with pulmonary coccidioidomycosis. Forty‐nine patients met CT criteria for mediastinal lymphadenopathy, whereas 101 patients did not. Disseminated coccidioidal infection was observed in 5 (10%) of the 49 patients with mediastinal lymphadenopathy and in 6 of the 101 (6%; P = .34) without such adenopathy. Among patients with coccidioidomycosis, patients with mediastinal lymphadenopathy, as assessed by CT, had a higher rate of disseminated infection, but the difference was not statistically significant.     

Disseminated aspergillosis presenting with endophthalmitis. A case report and a review of the literature

A patient with idiopathic thrombocytosis developed sudden loss of vision in his left eye secondary to endophthalmitis caused by Aspergillus flavus. He subsequently manifested other symptoms and signs of disseminated infection, and eventually died despite prompt initiation of appropriate parenteral antifungal therapy. A period of profound, iatrogenic neutropenia preceded the development of his terminal infection. Previously reported cases of hematogenously acquired Aspergillus endophthalmitis are reviewed, and approaches to diagnosis and management are discussed. The frequency of eye involvement in cases of disseminated aspergillosis is unknown, but it may be greater than appreciated previously.     

TGF-β-miR-34a-CCL22 Signaling-Induced Treg Cell Recruitment Promotes Venous Metastases of HBV-Positive Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) is strongly correlated to a poor prognosis for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we uncovered a causative link between hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and development of PVTT. Mechanistically, elevated TGF-β activity, associated with the persistent presence of HBV in the liver tissue, suppresses the expression of microRNA-34a, leading to enhanced production of chemokine CCL22, which recruits regulatory T (Treg) cells to facilitate immune escape. These findings strongly suggest that HBV infection and activity of the TGF-β-miR-34a-CCL22 axis serve as potent etiological factors to predispose HCC patients for the development of PVTT, possibly through the creation of an immune-subversive microenvironment to favor colonization of disseminated HCC cells in the portal venous system.