Disseminated penicilliosis due to Penicillium chrysogenum in a pediatric patient with Henoch–Schönlein syndrome

Abstract

A case of disseminated infection caused by Penicillium chrysogenum in a 10-year-old boy with a history of Henoch–Schönlein purpura and proliferative glomerulonephritis, treated with immunosuppressors, is reported herein. The patient had a clinical picture of 2 weeks of fever that did not respond to treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics and amphotericin B. Computed tomography imaging showed diffuse cotton-like infiltrates in the lungs, hepatomegaly, mesenteric lymphadenopathy, and multiple well-defined round hypodense lesions in the spleen. His treatment was changed to caspofungin, followed by voriconazole. One month later, a splenic biopsy revealed hyaline septate hyphae of > 1 μm in diameter. Fungal growth was negative. However, molecular analysis showed 99% identity with P. chrysogenum. A therapeutic splenectomy was performed, and treatment was changed to amphotericin B lipid complex and caspofungin. The patient completed 2 months of treatment with resolution of the infection. P. chrysogenum is a rare causative agent of invasive fungal infections in immunocompromised patients, and its diagnosis is necessary to initiate the appropriate antifungal treatment.

Keywords

• Penicillium chrysogenum
• Penicilliosis
• Hyalohyphomycosis
• Disseminated penicilliosis