Fatal hemoptysis from invasive Aspergillus niger in a patient with cavitary lung disease and Mycobacterium avium complex infection.
Invasive aspergillosis typically afflicts immunocompromised patients, whereas pulmonary aspergilloma is a recognized complication of pre-existing cavitary lung disease in immunocompetent hosts. In both cases, the most prevalent pathogens are Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus. We describe a case of fatal hemoptysis from invasive Aspergillus niger infection in the setting of bullous lung disease, steroid-treated sarcoidosis, and Mycobacterium avium complex infection. This report highlights the potential for A. niger to cause invasive disease in conjunction with other pathologic processes in the lung.
Gifford
Alex H
AH
Section of General Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Disease and International Health, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire 03756, USA. alex.h.gifford@hitchcock.org
Lahey
Timothy
T
Fordham Von Reyn
C
C
D000328:Adult; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D001234:Aspergillus niger / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D009162:Mycobacterium avium / Q000276:immunology; D015270:Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed