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Zygomycosis Presenting a Major Clinical Challenge: Case Report on Rhizomucor pusillus Infection in a Stem-Cell-Transplant Recipient

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Abstract

Zygomycoses are opportunistic infections caused by the Mucorales fungi. They are typically seen in immunosuppressed patients. The incidence of zygomycosis cases seems to be increasing. We report on zygomycosis in a pediatric, female stem-cell-transplant recipient. This case report underlines the difficulty of taking care of patients with zygomycosis. In fungal infections of immunosuppressive patients on broad-coverage antibiotics, foci of skin necrosis are unique and typical for zygomycoses, and may be helpful in this challenging diagnosis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Children’s Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland

    Sanna-Maria Kivivuori & Ulla M. Saarinen-Pihkala

  2. HUSLAB Central Pathology Laboratory, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

    Riitta Karikoski

  3. Laboratory Division, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland

    Pirkko Koukila-Kähkölä

  4. Department of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

    Veli-Jukka Anttila

Authors
  1. Sanna-Maria Kivivuori
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  2. Riitta Karikoski
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  3. Pirkko Koukila-Kähkölä
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  4. Veli-Jukka Anttila
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  5. Ulla M. Saarinen-Pihkala
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Correspondence to Sanna-Maria Kivivuori.

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Kivivuori, SM., Karikoski, R., Koukila-Kähkölä, P. et al. Zygomycosis Presenting a Major Clinical Challenge: Case Report on Rhizomucor pusillus Infection in a Stem-Cell-Transplant Recipient. Mycopathologia 172, 241–245 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-011-9424-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-011-9424-8

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