Successful Treatment of Invasive Conidiobolus Infection During Therapy for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2018 Oct;40(7):e446-e449. doi: 10.1097/MPH.0000000000000985.

Abstract

Invasive fungal infections are a serious cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with hematologic malignancies. Conidiobolus species are molds within the order Entomophthorales and may disseminate to become rapidly fatal in immunocompromised individuals. This species of fungal infections are often multidrug resistant (MDR) and present unique therapeutic challenges. Reports of Conidiobolus infections are rare in pediatric oncology. We report the successful treatment of an adolescent male with B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia and MDR invasive sinopulmonary Conidiobolus infection with emphasis on early and aggressive neutrophil support with surgical debridement. The strategies described could be applied to other MDR fungal infections.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use
  • Conidiobolus / isolation & purification*
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / therapeutic use
  • Granulocytes / transplantation
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mycoses / therapy
  • Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / therapy
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / therapy*
  • Remission Induction / methods
  • Zygomycosis / therapy*

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor