Paecilomyces Pneumonia Despite Voriconazole Prophylaxis: A Case Report and Literature Review

Abuzar A Asif; Moni Roy; Sharjeel Ahmad

doi:10.12890/2021_002651

Paecilomyces Pneumonia Despite Voriconazole Prophylaxis: A Case Report and Literature Review

Eur J Case Rep Intern Med. 2021 Jun 21;8(7):002651. doi: 10.12890/2021_002651. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Abuzar A Asif¹, Moni Roy¹, Sharjeel Ahmad²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Internal Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, Peoria, USA.
² Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, Peoria, USA.

Abstract

Paecilomyces species are a rare cause of fungal pulmonary infections in immunocompromised hosts. Paecilomyces variotii and Paecilomyces lilacinus are the two most common species of clinical significance. Both species differ in their susceptibility to antifungal agents. We present a rare case of a 47-year-old immunocompromised woman who developed Paecilomyces pneumonia despite being on voriconazole prophylaxis. We also present a review of the literature on other reported cases.

Learning points: Paecilomyces species differ in their susceptibility to antifungal agents.Breakthrough invasive mould infections are increasingly being documented in immunocompromised patients on voriconazole prophylaxis.Posaconazole has been shown to be effective against both Paecilomyces species.

Keywords: Paecilomyces; pneumonia; posaconazole; resistance; voriconazole.