Fungal infections due to Apiotrichum mycotoxinivorans are clinically rare. Here, we report a case of invasive blood and cerebrospinal fluid infection by Apiotrichum mycotoxinivorans in a girl with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. This is the first report of the isolation of Apiotrichum mycotoxinivorans from human cerebrospinal fluid. MRI features of meningitis caused by this fungus are presented. Three small isoquinoline alkaloids inhibited the growth of this rare fungus in vitro, providing a starting point for the application of natural products to treat this highly fatal fungal infection. Our case presentation confirms Apiotrichum mycotoxinivorans as a potential emerging pathogen in patients with hematological malignancy undergoing chemotherapy.
Keywords: Apiotrichum mycotoxinivorans; Cerebrospinal fluid; Natural products; Rare fungus.
© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.