Nosocomial legionellosis and invasive aspergillosis in a child with T-lymphoblastic leukemia

Rhoikos Furtwängler; Uwe Schlotthauer; Barbara Gärtner; Norbert Graf; Arne Simon

doi:10.1016/j.ijheh.2017.05.002

Nosocomial legionellosis and invasive aspergillosis in a child with T-lymphoblastic leukemia

Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2017 Jul;220(5):900-905. doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2017.05.002. Epub 2017 May 13.

Authors

Rhoikos Furtwängler¹, Uwe Schlotthauer², Barbara Gärtner², Norbert Graf¹, Arne Simon³

Affiliations

¹ Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Children's Hospital, Saarland University and Saarland University Medical Centre, Homburg, Germany.
² Institutes and State Laboratory of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Saarland University and Saarland University Medical Centre, Homburg, Germany.
³ Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Children's Hospital, Saarland University and Saarland University Medical Centre, Homburg, Germany. Electronic address: Arne.Simon@uks.eu.

Abstract

Invasive aspergillosis of the lungs and the central nervous system and Legionella pneumophilia serotype 1 infection of the lungs were diagnosed in a 22-month old child during inpatient induction treatment for T-lymphoblastic leukemia. Environmental investigations i.e. samples from the hospital water system did not reveal any Legionella. The patient may have been exposed to waterborne pathogens despite terminal water filtration due to a technical device to release residual tap water from the hose after showering. A sodium chloride nose spray was found to be contaminated with the A. fumigatus isolate of the patient.

Keywords: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia; Aspergillus fumigatus; Children with cancer; Invasive aspergillosis; Legionella pneumophilia; Legionellosis.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use
Antigens, Bacterial / analysis
Aspergillosis* / diagnostic imaging
Aspergillosis* / drug therapy
Aspergillosis* / microbiology
Aspergillus fumigatus / immunology
Aspergillus fumigatus / isolation & purification
Brain / diagnostic imaging
Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / microbiology
Cross Infection* / diagnostic imaging
Cross Infection* / drug therapy
Cross Infection* / microbiology
Hospitals
Humans
Infant
Legionella / isolation & purification
Legionellosis* / diagnostic imaging
Legionellosis* / drug therapy
Legionellosis* / microbiology
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Nasal Sprays
Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma* / diagnostic imaging
Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma* / drug therapy
Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma* / microbiology
Water Microbiology
Water Pollutants / isolation & purification
Water Supply

Substances

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Antifungal Agents
Antigens, Bacterial
Nasal Sprays
Water Pollutants