Volvariella volvacea brain Abscess in an immunocompromised host-An emerging fungal pathogen in Asia

Abstract

Volvariella volvacea is a fungus found in tropical regions, commonly associated with straw mushrooms. This is a 50-year-old Singaporean female post living donor renal transplant who presented with fever, cough and headache. She was diagnosed to have Volvariella volvacea brain abscess. She was treated with combination anti-fungal therapy without surgical debridement and remains stable. The pathogenicity of this rare fungus in immunocompromised hosts is demonstrated here and is of significance particularly in Asia where ingestion of straw mushrooms may be a risk factor for invasive fungal disease.

Keywords: Antifungal; Brain abscess; Fungus; Immunocompromised; Renal transplant; Straw mushroom.