Endofungal Mycetohabitans rhizoxinica Bacteremia Associated with Rhizopus microsporus Respiratory Tract Infection

Emerg Infect Dis. 2022 Oct;28(10):2091-2095. doi: 10.3201/eid2810.220507.

Abstract

We report Mycetohabitans rhizoxinica bacteremia in a 65-year-old woman in California, USA, who was undergoing chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy for multiple myeloma. Acute brain infarction and pneumonia developed; Rhizopus microsporus mold was isolated from tracheal suction. Whole-genome sequencing confirmed bacteria in blood as genetically identical to endofungal bacteria inside the mold.

Keywords: Burkholderia rhizoxinica; Mycetohabitans rhizoxinica; Rhizopus microspores; United States; bacteremia; bacteria; endofungal bacteria; fungi; mucormycosis; respiratory infection.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Bacteremia*
  • Burkholderia*
  • Burkholderiaceae
  • Fungi
  • Humans
  • Mucormycosis* / diagnosis
  • Receptors, Chimeric Antigen*
  • Respiratory Tract Infections*
  • Rhizopus / genetics
  • Symbiosis

Substances

  • Receptors, Chimeric Antigen

Supplementary concepts

  • Paraburkholderia rhizoxinica
  • Rhizopus microsporus