Septic shock induced by Lecythophora mutabilis in a patient with mitochondrial encephalomyopathy

Abstract

Invasive fungal infection (IFI) caused by Lecythophora mutabilis occasionally occurs in patients with impaired host immunity; such patients had eosinophilia at onset, and surviving patients were treated with fungal cell-membrane-targeted drugs. An 18-year-old man with mitochondrial encephalomyopathy accompanied with refractory anaemia and chronic renal failure developed septic shock caused by L. mutabilis, which was detected from a blood culture, and was identified morphologically and genetically. During the course of the infection, he had eosinophilia, although β-d-glucan levels were within the normal range. He was treated with micafungin, but deteriorated and died, despite his treatment being changed to liposomal amphotericin B. On the basis of this we suggest that IFI caused by L. mutabilis should be suspected when a compromised host develops infection and eosinophilia, and that antifungal drugs that target β-d-glucan are not advisable.