Invasive fungal infection by Peziza ostracoderma in an immunocompromised patient

Abstract

We report for the first time a case of disseminated infection caused by Peziza ostracoderma, a mold not previously associated with invasive infections in humans. P. ostracoderma occurs in natural and sterilized soil and may cause hypersensitivity pneumonitis in greenhouse workers. The immunocompromised patient presented with neutropenic fever that did not respond to broad-spectrum antibiotics and developed multiple skin and lung lesions. A skin biopsy demonstrated an angioinvasive mold, identified as Peziza ostracoderma by culture and DNA sequencing. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for amphotericin B was 0.125 mg/L, for isavuconazole 0.125 mg/L, for voriconazole 0.06 mg/L, and for posaconazole 0.03 mg/L. The skin lesions have resolved completely, and the lung lesions have decreased significantly in size after 14 months of mold-active antifungal therapy, mostly isavuconazole. In conclusion, Peziza species can be opportunistic pathogens causing considerable morbidity in immunocompromised hosts. The infection may be successfully treated with mold-active antifungal drugs.

Keywords

• Pezizales
• Peat mold
• Immunocompromised host
• Opportunistic infection
• Treatment