Successful treatment of invasive aspergillosis caused by Aspergillus parafelis in a kidney transplant recipient

Abstract

Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is associated with a high mortality rate in kidney-transplant recipients. Azole-resistance is increasing in Aspergillus fumigatus. We report a clinical case of a kidney-transplant recipient with cerebellar and pulmonary aspergillosis caused by azole-resistant Aspergillus parafelis (molecular identification through β-tubulin sequence). The patient experienced an effective resolution after three surgical procedures and associated antifungal therapy. This case highlights that azole-resistant aspergillosis should be considered in every patient with IA as long as susceptibility testing results are not known. Therefore, in selected patients with IA and central nervous system involvement, empirical combination antifungal therapy could be considered.

Keywords

• Aspergillus
• Aspergillus parafelis
• Invasive aspergillosis
• Kidney transplant
• Azole-resistant aspergillosis