Fatal invasive aspergillosis caused by Aspergillus niger after bilateral lung transplantation

Abstract

Aspergillus niger is usually considered to be a low virulence fungus, not commonly reported to cause invasive infections. Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis due to Aspergillus niger was diagnosed in a 43-year-old woman following bilateral lung transplantation. Intravenous voriconazole failed to control progression of the disease. Despite salvage therapy with a combination of voriconazole and caspofungin for 23 days, the patient developed massive hemoptysis leading to death. The authors report the clinical features and treatment of this case.

Keywords

• Invasive aspergillosis
• Aspergillus niger
• Lung transplantation
• Voriconazole
• Massive hemoptysis