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Biomedical subjects

T S Lundstrom

Publications and source records attributed to T S Lundstrom.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Phialophora verrucosa infection in a BMT patient.

Phialophora is a dematiaceous fungus isolated from soil and wood. Human infections including chromoblastomycosis, mycotic keratitis, cutaneous infections, and prosthetic valve endocarditis have been reported. We report a case of fatal hemorrhage due to Phialophora verrucosa in a patient with prolonged neutropenia undergoing autologous bone marrow transplant (BMT) for acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Bacterial infections complicated induction and consolidation chemotherapies. Liposomal amphotericin B (LAMB) was given from day +33 to day +72 for febrile neutropenia. Death occurred on day +74 due to tracheal hemorrhage. Autopsy revealed granulation tissue on the posterior wall of the trachea with fungal hyphae on histopathology; the tissue grew Phialophora verrucosa. In vitro susceptibility studies revealed a minimum inhibitory concentration to AmB of 0.1 microg/ml. This represents the first reported case of invasive P. verrucosa in a BMT patient leading to fatal hemorrhage, despite large cumulative doses of LAMB to which the organism remained susceptible.

Adult

Vancomycin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and rifampin.

Vancomycin is a safe, effective antibiotic for a variety of serious gram-positive infections. Because of emerging vancomycin-resistant enterococci and the threat of spread of vancomycin-resistant genes to other gram-positive organisms, judicious use of vancomycin should be promoted. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, a broad-spectrum synergistic combination, continues to find widespread use in gram-negative bacterial infections, especially involving the urinary tract. It has enjoyed enormous success in prophylaxis and therapy of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. Rifampin remains of paramount significance as a cidal agent against Mycobacterium tuberculosis; however, increasing reports of strains of MDR-tuberculosis are of great concern.

Anti-Bacterial Agents