Disease: graft-versus-host disease

Neosartorya udagawae pulmonary infection requiring a surgical treatment in a paediatric haematopoietic progenitor cell recipient

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A three-year-old boy with leukemia received a bone marrow transplant and developed a serious fungal lung infection caused by Neosartorya udagawae, a rare fungal pathogen. Despite receiving multiple antifungal medications at appropriate doses, the infection continued to worsen and spread in his lungs. Doctors ultimately had to surgically remove the infected portion of his lung (left upper lobe) to successfully treat the infection, and the child recovered completely without recurrence after three years of follow-up.

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Breakthrough Invasive Mould Infections Under Posaconazole Prophylaxis in Patients With Haematologic Malignancies: A Case–Control Study

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This study examined cases where patients receiving posaconazole to prevent fungal infections still developed serious mould infections despite the medication. Researchers compared 29 patients who developed these breakthrough infections with 46 control patients who did not. They found that over half of patients with breakthrough infections died, compared to only 20% of controls, and that surgical treatment significantly improved survival for certain types of fungal infections.

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Approaches to Invasive Fungal Diseases in Paediatric Cancer Centres: An Analysis of Current Practices and Challenges in Germany, Austria and Switzerland

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This study examined how 62 children’s cancer hospitals in Germany, Austria and Switzerland manage fungal infections in young cancer patients. Researchers found that hospitals use different methods to prevent and treat these serious infections, with some having special fungal infection experts and others not. The study revealed that larger hospitals tend to have better resources and expertise, while smaller hospitals face challenges like drug interactions and delays in getting test results.

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Liposomal amphotericin B prophylaxis in paediatrics: a systematic review

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This study reviews how a fungal medication called liposomal amphotericin B is used to prevent serious fungal infections in children with weakened immune systems, particularly those with blood cancers or who have had bone marrow transplants. The researchers found that this medicine prevents infections in about 93% of children, though it does cause side effects like low potassium levels in about 23% of patients. However, the study shows that current use of this medicine is quite varied and more high-quality research is needed to determine the best dosing approach.

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Mucor germinans, a novel dimorphic species resembling Paracoccidioides in a clinical sample: questions on ecological strategy

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Researchers discovered a new fungus called Mucor germinans that infected a cancer patient’s lungs and appeared as yeast cells rather than the typical thread-like fungal structures. This is unusual because Mucor infections normally show filamentous hyphae, and the yeast-like appearance made it look like a different fungus, potentially delaying correct diagnosis and treatment. The study shows that this fungus can change forms depending on temperature and other conditions, and identifying it requires checking for multiple nuclei in the cells to distinguish it from other similar-looking yeasts.

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Mucor germinans, a novel dimorphic species resembling Paracoccidioides in a clinical sample: questions on ecological strategy

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Researchers identified a new fungal species called Mucor germinans from a patient with Burkitt lymphoma that can switch between filamentous and yeast-like forms. This is unusual because Mucor species are typically identified by their thread-like filaments, not budding yeast cells. The yeast form appeared at body temperature and resembled a different fungus called Paracoccidioides, potentially causing misdiagnosis. The discovery emphasizes the importance of recognizing that some Mucor infections may present with yeast-like cells and highlights the need for rapid, accurate identification to guide appropriate antifungal treatment.

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