Lethal systemic and brain infection caused by Prototheca zopfii algae in a patient with acute myeloid leukemia

Abstract

Systemic protothecosis is an exceptionally rare cause of sepsis with few available therapeutic options. Here, we report on a female patient with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia who died after start of chemotherapy due to a severe septic shock caused by a disseminated systemic infection with Prototheca zopfii including encephalitis.

Keywords

• Prototheca zopfii
• Protothecosis
• Encephalitis
• Leukemia
• Immunodeficiency