Case Reports in Infectious Diseases (Jan 2020)

Fatal Mucormycosis and Aspergillosis in an Atypical Host: What Do We Know about Mixed Invasive Mold Infections?

  • Maria Tsikala-Vafea,
  • Weibiao Cao,
  • Adam J. Olszewski,
  • John E. Donahue,
  • Dimitrios Farmakiotis

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/8812528
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 2020

Abstract

Read online

Mixed invasive mold infections (MIMIs) are considered rare. We present a case of fatal aspergillosis and mucormycosis in an elderly host with history of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and potential mold exposures. Notably, he had no classic risk factors for IMI other than high-dose corticosteroids, which may be an important risk factor for (M)IMI, based on the current and previous reports. There is an urgent need for studies on the “net state of immunosuppression,” environmental exposure as risk factors for (M)IMIs, and noninvasive fungal diagnostics.