The significance of blood cultures positive for emerging saprophytic moulds in cancer patients |
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Authors: | M S Lionakis G P Bodey J J Tarrand I I Raad D P Kontoyiannis |
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Institution: | Department of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control and Employee Health, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA. |
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Abstract: | The significance of blood cultures positive for emerging saprophytic moulds (e.g., Scedosporium apiospermum, Scedosporium prolificans, Paecilomyces spp.) was evaluated in 30 cancer patients (1996-2002). Diagnostic criteria proposed previously for evaluation of aspergillaemia were used. Blood cultures positive for emerging saprophytic moulds represented 1% of all positive fungal cultures. One case of catheter-related fungaemia was excluded. The remaining 29 cases consisted of true (n = 5), probable (n = 1), indeterminate (n = 7) fungaemia, and contamination (n = 16). True fungaemia was seen only in leukaemia patients and allogeneic bone marrow transplant recipients. S. apiospermum and S. prolificans were the commonest causes of true fungaemia. |
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Keywords: | Blood cultures cancer patients emerging saprophytic moulds fungaemia Scedosporium spp |
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