Peritonitis by Scedosporium apiospermum in a patient undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

Peritonite por Scedosporium apiospermum em paciente sob diálise peritoneal ambulatorial continuada

Peritonitis by Scedosporium apiospermum in a patient undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis Luiz Carlos SEVERO⁽¹⁾, Flávio de Mattos OLIVEIRA⁽¹⁾, Clotilde Druck GARCIA⁽²⁾, Anelise UHLMANN⁽²⁾ & Alberto Thomaz LONDERO⁽³⁾ SUMMARY

A case of peritonitis due to Scedosporium apiospermum in a boy undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis is reported. The finding of suggestive tissual form of the fungus in the effluent hastened the diagnosis of the infection.

KEYWORDS: Scedosporiosis; Scedosporium apiospermum; Dialysis; Peritonitis.

INTRODUCTION

Fungal peritonitis is an uncommon complication of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). This condition is predominantly caused by fungi inhabiting patient’s skin, more rarely by environmental fungi and, exceptionally, by dimorphic pathogenic fungi^9,15.

In spite of being an environmental cosmopolitan soil and water living fungus⁴, Scedosporium apiospermum has not yet been quoted as an agent of CAPD associated peritonitis. This is the reason for the presentation of this report. In addition some commentaries on the suggestive forms of S. apiospermum in clinical specimens were also made.

CASE REPORT

This patient, a 12 year - old boy, was a carrier of hepatitis B surface antigen. He has been undergoing CAPD since Jun/92 because of end-stage renal disease, secondary to cystinosis. Baxter (Deerfield, IL) convecional spike system was used. Four exchange of dialysate fluid (4.25 g/l in 1.5% dextrose solution) per day was performed.

On Dec/92 and, again, on May/93 the patient suffered from Staphylococcus aureus peritonitis. In both episodes he was successfully treated with intraperitoneal vancomycin. On Aug/93, the patient complained of abdominal pain. Soon the dialysate effluent became cloudy. The effluent was then collected for microbiological examination.

Laboratory findings. The dialysate effluent concentration of leukocytes was 1,600/mm³ (90% polymorphs, 10% monocytes/macrophage). Microscopic examination of the sediment of the centrifugated dialysate revealed hyaline, septate hyphae and many one-celled, smooth, ovoid, pale brown conidia with truncate base. These structures, consistent with Scedosporium sp., were also observed in smear of the specimen stained by Gomori methenamine silver stain (Fig. 1). No bacteria were disclosed in Gram stain. Floccose white colonies, that soon turned to dark grey, were obtained on Sabouraud dextrose agar medium, incubated at room temperature. These colonies were composed of hyaline, ramified, septate hyphae and light brown ovoid anneloconidia 6-10x3.5-5µm) with a truncate base. These characteristics identify S. apiospermum.

Fig.1 - S. apiospermum

The Tenckhoff catheter was removed and the patient was put back in hemodialysis. No antifungal therapy was used. On Dec/93 the boy was submitted to a living related donor transplantation. In Jun/96 creatinine value was 1.7 mg% . On Dec/98 the patient was clinically very well.

COMMENTS

To our knowledge our case is the first one of CAPD associated peritonitis caused by S. apiospermum.

It was interesting to note that the agent of our patient’s infection was suspected since the direct microscopic examination of the clinical specimen. A great number of characteristic conidia of Scedosporium type at the side of hyaline, septate hyphae were seen in direct mount of the sediment of the dialysate. This finding hastened the removal of the catheter and also facilitates the selection of the culture medium for the identification of the species.

Scedosporium conidia has been an important finding in the clinical specimen for the diagnosis of scedosporiosis^2,7. However, the isolation in culture is necessary to identify the species of Scedosporium. This characteristic forms of the potentially pathogenic species of Scedosporium has been detected in exsudates¹³, pus from abscess⁶, organic fluids⁸, infections or colonization of cavities^1,3, endocarditis thrombus⁵, as well as in histological sections of tissues obtained from many organic active^2,9,14,16 or residual¹⁷ lesions caused by the two species of pathogenic Scedosporium .

RESUMO

Peritonite por Scedosporium apiospermum em paciente sob diálise peritoneal ambulatorial continuada

É relatado caso de peritonite por Scedosporium apiospermumem menino sob diálise peritoneal ambulatorial continuada. O achado de formas teciduais sugestivas do fungo acelerou o diagnóstico da infecção.

REFERENCES

Amer. J. clin. Path., 62Scedosporium prolificans. Medicine (Baltimore), 76 Petriellidium boydiiAmer. J. clin. Path.,74

4. CREMER, G. & BOIRON, P. - Epidemiology and biology of Scedosporium species. J. Mycol. méd., 6: 165-171, 1996.

Pseudallescheria boydiiArch. Path. Lab. Med., 108Scedosporium apiospermumMykosen, 30Pseudallescheria boydiiScedosporium prolificansMycoses, 37Petriellidium boydiiAllescheria boydiiAmer. J. Med., 61

9. MENT, S.H.; SMITH, R.R.L.; KARP, J.E. & MERZ, W.G. - Pulmonary, cardiac and tryroid involvement in disseminated pseudallescheriasis. Arch. Path. Lab. Med., 108: 859-861, 1984.

10. NAGAPPAN, R.; COLLINS, J.F. & LEE, W.T.L. - Fungal peritonitis in continuous peritoneal dialysis. The Auckland experience. Amer. J. Kidney Dis., 20: 492-496, 1992.

11. PIENS, M.A.; JIMENEZ, J.L.; GUYOTAT, D. et al. - A propos de trois observations d’infection humaine a Scedosporium apiospermum. Intérêt du traitement par itraconazole. J. Mycol. méd., 1: 156-159, 1991.

12. RABDONIRINA, M.; PAULUS, S.; THEVENET, F. et al. - Disseminated Scedosporium prolificans (S. inflatum) infection after a single-lung transplantation. Clin. infect. Dis., 19: 138-142, 1994.

13. SEVERO, L.C.; OLIVEIRA, F.M. & LONDERO, A.T. - Subcutaneous scedosporiosis. Report of two cases and review of the literature. Rev. Inst. Med. trop. S. Paulo, 39: 227-230, 1997.

14. SMITH, A.G.; CRAIN, S.M.; DEJONGH, C. et al. - Systemic pseudallescheriasis in a patient with acute myelocytic leukemia. Mycopathologia (Den Haag), 90: 85-89, 1985.

15. von GRAEVENITZ, A. & AMSTERDAM, M. - Microbiological aspects of peritonitis associated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. Clin. Microbiol. Rev., 5: 36-48, 1992.

16. WILSON, C.M.; O’ROURKE, E.J.; McGINNIS, M.R. & SALKIN, I.F. - Scedosporium inflatum: clinical spectrum of a newly recognized pathogen. J. infect. Dis., 161: 102-107, 1990.

17. WOODARD, B.H. - Asymptomatic pulmonary coin lesion with Petriellidium boydii. Sth. med. J. (Bgham, Ala.), 75: 229-230, 1982.

Correspondence to : Dr. Luiz Carlos Severo, Laboratório de Microbiologia Clínica, IPD-Santa Casa, Annes Dias 285, 90020-090 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.

Fax: [phone], E-mail:[e-mail]

Received: 09 March 1999

Accepted: 05 April 1999

• 1. BAKERSPIGEL, A.; WOOD, T. & BURKE, S. - Pulmonary allescheriasis. Report of a case from Ontario, Canada. Amer. J. clin. Path., 62: 299-303, 1977.
• 2. BERENGUER, J.; RODRÍGUES-TUDELA, J.L.; RICHARD, C. et al. - Deep infections caused by Scedosporium prolificans A report of 16 cases in Spain and a review of the literature. Medicine (Baltimore), 76: 256-265, 1997.
• 3. BRYAN, C.S.; DiSALVO, A.F.; KAUFMAN, L. et al. - Petriellidium boydii infection of the sphenoid sinus. Amer. J. clin. Path., 74: 846-851, 1980.
• 4. CREMER, G. & BOIRON, P. - Epidemiology and biology of Scedosporium species. J. Mycol. méd., 6: 165-171, 1996.
• 5. ENGGANO, I.L.; HUGHES, W.T.; KALWINSKY, D.K. et al. - Pseudallescheria boydii in a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Arch. Path. Lab. Med., 108: 619-622, 1984.
• 6. GUYOTAT, D.; PIENS, M.A.; BOUVIER, R. & FIERE, D. - A case of disseminated Scedosporium apiospermum infection after bone marrow transplantation. Mykosen, 30: 151-154, 1987.
• 7. HOOG, G.S.; MARVIN-SIKKEMA, F.D.; LAHPOOR, G.A. et al. - Ecology and physiology of the emerging opportunistic fungi Pseudallescheria boydii and Scedosporium prolificans Mycoses, 37: 71-78, 1994.
• 8. LUTWICK, L.I.; GALGIANI, J.N.; JOHNSON, R.H. & STEVENS, D.A. - Visceral fungal infections due to Petriellidium boydii (Allescheria boydii). In vitro drug sensitivity studies. Amer. J. Med., 61: 632-640, 1976.
• 9. MENT, S.H.; SMITH, R.R.L.; KARP, J.E. & MERZ, W.G. - Pulmonary, cardiac and tryroid involvement in disseminated pseudallescheriasis. Arch. Path. Lab. Med., 108: 859-861, 1984.
• 10. NAGAPPAN, R.; COLLINS, J.F. & LEE, W.T.L. - Fungal peritonitis in continuous peritoneal dialysis. The Auckland experience. Amer. J. Kidney Dis., 20: 492-496, 1992.
• 11. PIENS, M.A.; JIMENEZ, J.L.; GUYOTAT, D. et al. - A propos de trois observations dinfection humaine a Scedosporium apiospermum Intéręt du traitement par itraconazole. J. Mycol. méd., 1: 156-159, 1991.
• 12. RABDONIRINA, M.; PAULUS, S.; THEVENET, F. et al. - Disseminated Scedosporium prolificans (S. inflatum) infection after a single-lung transplantation. Clin. infect. Dis., 19: 138-142, 1994.
• 13. SEVERO, L.C.; OLIVEIRA, F.M. & LONDERO, A.T. - Subcutaneous scedosporiosis. Report of two cases and review of the literature. Rev. Inst. Med. trop. S. Paulo, 39: 227-230, 1997.
• 14. SMITH, A.G.; CRAIN, S.M.; DEJONGH, C. et al. - Systemic pseudallescheriasis in a patient with acute myelocytic leukemia. Mycopathologia (Den Haag), 90: 85-89, 1985.
• 15. von GRAEVENITZ, A. & AMSTERDAM, M. - Microbiological aspects of peritonitis associated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. Clin. Microbiol. Rev., 5: 36-48, 1992.
• 16. WILSON, C.M.; OROURKE, E.J.; McGINNIS, M.R. & SALKIN, I.F. - Scedosporium inflatum: clinical spectrum of a newly recognized pathogen. J. infect. Dis., 161: 102-107, 1990.
• 17. WOODARD, B.H. - Asymptomatic pulmonary coin lesion with Petriellidium boydii Sth. med. J. (Bgham, Ala.), 75: 229-230, 1982.

(1)

Laboratório de Microbiologia Clínica, Instituto Especializado em Pesquisa e Diagnóstico, Santa Casa, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil.

(2)

Serviço de Nefrologia, Santa Casa, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil.

(3)

Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brasil.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  09 Nov 1999
• Date of issue
  July 1999

History

• Accepted
  05 Apr 1999
• Received
  09 Mar 1999