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Risk Factors and Outcomes of Invasive Fungal Infections in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Recipients

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Abstract

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients are at increased risk of invasive fungal infections (IFI), which are associated with a high mortality rate. We evaluated the impact of IFI in allogeneic HCT patients. In total, 541 consecutive allogeneic HCT recipients were included. The cumulative incidence of any IFI and mold infections at 1-year post-HCT was 10 and 7%, respectively. Median times to IFI and mold infection were 200 and 210 days, respectively. There was a trend toward fewer IFI and mold infections in the last several years. Both acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) (OR 1.83, p = 0.05) and corticosteroid duration (OR 1.0, p = 0.026) were significantly associated with increased risk of IFI, acute GVHD (OR 2.3, p = 0.027) emerged as the most important association with mold infections. Any IFI [HR 4.1 (2.79–6.07), p < 0.0001] and mold infections [HR 3.34 (2.1–5.1), p < 0.0001] were independently associated with non-relapse mortality (NRM). This association persisted in the setting of both acute and chronic GVHD. Corticosteroid treatment for >90 days was also significantly associated with higher NRM [HR 1.9 (1.3–2.6), p < 0.0001]. This study highlights the impact of IFI on NRM among HCT patients. The decrease in number of IFI and mold infections over the last several years may reflect the benefit of prophylaxis with mold-active antifungal agents.

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Acknowledgement

Funding was provided by National Institutes of Health (Grant No. CA46592).

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Health System, 3119 Taubman Center, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA

      Marisa H. Miceli & Carol A. Kauffman

    2. Adult Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

      Tracey Churay

    3. Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

      Thomas Braun

    4. Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

      Carol A. Kauffman

    5. Huntsman Cancer Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

      Daniel R. Couriel

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    Correspondence to Marisa H. Miceli.

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    Marisa H. Miceli, Tracey Churay, Thomas Braun, and Carol A. Kauffman have no conflicts to report. Daniel R. Couriel is an active member of Merck, Inc. Advisory Board.

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    Marisa H. Miceli and Tracey Churay have contributed equally to the manuscript.

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    Miceli, M.H., Churay, T., Braun, T. et al. Risk Factors and Outcomes of Invasive Fungal Infections in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Recipients. Mycopathologia 182, 495–504 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-017-0115-y

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