Nosocomial pulmonary Rhizopus diagnosed by bronchoalveolar lavage with cytology in a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Rhizopus species is an opportunistic fungus that is contracted by inhalation of aerosolized spores. Early diagnosis is often difficult but is a necessity to prevent rapid progression of the infection that leads to blood vessel invasion by hyphae, causing fatal hemoptysis. A previous case report described the utility of cytologic examination of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid in achieving a prompt diagnosis of Rhizopus species in an adolescent patient with diabetic ketoacidosis. The author presents a case that further describes the benefit of performing BAL fluid cytology to help identify fungal morphology characteristics in order to reach an expeditious diagnosis of Rhizopus species in a leukemia patient.
Hayes
Don
D
Departments of Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, Wisconsin 53792, USA. d.hayes@hosp.wisc.edu
D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018893:Bronchoalveolar Lavage; D002648:Child; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008174:Lung Diseases, Parasitic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D009091:Mucormycosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010715:Phosphatidylglycerols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000150:complications*; D012233:Rhizopus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014031:Tobramycin / Q000627:therapeutic use
D004338:Drug Combinations; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D010715:Phosphatidylglycerols; C068538:liposomal amphotericin B; D000666:Amphotericin B; D014031:Tobramycin