title: Investigation and Management of a Rhizomucor Outbreak in a Pediatric Cancer Hospital in Egypt.
abstract: We describe an outbreak of mucormycosis in a pediatric oncology hospital during December 2010 and the measures taken to stop it. The outbreak began with two consecutive cases of laboratory-documented mucormycosis infections within 1 week. Investigations to track the source were conducted immediately. Air plate cultures from machines and ducts supplying patients' rooms revealed the growth of Rhizomucor. Of five affected patients, all had acute leukemia and three were histopathologically proven. All patients were treated with liposomal amphotericin B after mucormycosis was diagnosed. Posaconazole was used as a secondary prophylaxis in one case. Three patients died.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pathology, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Hadir A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: El-Mahallawy
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Reham
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Khedr
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Pathology, Children Cancer Hospital, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Hala
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Taha
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Lobna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shalaby
authors.affiliation: Department of Infection Control, Children Cancer Hospital, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mostafa
mesh_terms: D000391:Air Microbiology; D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002173:Cancer Care Facilities; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007938:Leukemia / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D009091:Mucormycosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D020103:Rhizomucor
chemical_list: D000666:Amphotericin B
keywords: Rhizomucor; children; hematological malignancies; outbreak