Focus on invasive mucormycosis in paediatric haematology oncology patients: a series of 11 cases

Mycoses. 2013 May;56(3):236-40. doi: 10.1111/myc.12010. Epub 2012 Oct 1.

Abstract

Mucormycosis has emerged as an increasingly important infection in oncology centres with high mortality, especially in severely immunocompromised patients. We carried out a retrospective study of 11 children with mucormycosis treated in seven French oncology-haematology paediatric wards during the period from 1991 to 2011. Lichtheimia corymbifera and Mucor spp. were the predominant pathogens. Treatment regimens included antifungal therapy, reversal of underlying predisposing risk factors and surgical debridement. Although mucormycosis is associated with high mortality, this infection could be cured in eight of our cases of severely immunocompromised paediatric cancer patients.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Amphotericin B / therapeutic use
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Child
  • Female
  • Hospitals, Pediatric*
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / drug therapy
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / pathology*
  • Lung Diseases, Fungal / drug therapy
  • Lung Diseases, Fungal / pathology
  • Male
  • Mucor
  • Mucormycosis / drug therapy
  • Mucormycosis / mortality
  • Mucormycosis / pathology*
  • Neutropenia / microbiology
  • Neutropenia / pathology
  • Opportunistic Infections / microbiology
  • Opportunistic Infections / pathology
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • liposomal amphotericin B
  • Amphotericin B