Title |
Seasonal clustering of sinopulmonary mucormycosis in patients with hematologic malignancies at a large comprehensive cancer center
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Published in |
Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control, December 2017
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DOI | 10.1186/s13756-017-0282-0 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Shobini Sivagnanam, Dhruba J. Sengupta, Daniel Hoogestraat, Rupali Jain, Zach Stednick, David N. Fredricks, Paul Hendrie, Estella Whimbey, Sara T. Podczervinski, Elizabeth M. Krantz, Jeffrey S. Duchin, Steven A. Pergam |
Abstract |
Invasive Mucorales infections (IMI) lead to significant morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised hosts. The role of season and climatic conditions in case clustering of IMI remain poorly understood. Following detection of a cluster of sinopulmonary IMIs in patients with hematologic malignancies, we reviewed center-based medical records of all patients with IMIs and other invasive fungal infections (IFIs) between January of 2012 and August of 2015 to assess for case clustering in relation to seasonality. A cluster of 7 patients were identified with sinopulmonary IMIs (Rhizopus microsporus/azygosporus, 6; Rhizomucor pusillus, 1) during a 3 month period between June and August of 2014. All patients died or were discharged to hospice. The cluster was managed with institution of standardized posaconazole prophylaxis to high-risk patients and patient use of N-95 masks when outside of protected areas on the inpatient service. Review of an earlier study period identified 11 patients with IMIs of varying species over the preceding 29 months without evidence of clustering. There were 9 total IMIs in the later study period (12 month post-initial cluster) with 5 additional cases in the summer months, again suggesting seasonal clustering. Extensive environmental sampling did not reveal a source of mold. Using local climatological data abstracted from National Centers for Environmental Information the clusters appeared to be associated with high temperatures and low precipitation. Sinopulmonary Mucorales clusters at our center had a seasonal variation which appeared to be related to temperature and precipitation. Given the significant mortality associated with IMIs, local climatic conditions may need to be considered when considering center specific fungal prevention and prophylaxis strategies for high-risk patients. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United States | 18 | 45% |
Spain | 4 | 10% |
Canada | 2 | 5% |
Saudi Arabia | 2 | 5% |
United Kingdom | 1 | 3% |
Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of | 1 | 3% |
Australia | 1 | 3% |
Macao | 1 | 3% |
Colombia | 1 | 3% |
Other | 0 | 0% |
Unknown | 9 | 23% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Scientists | 19 | 48% |
Members of the public | 13 | 33% |
Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 5 | 13% |
Science communicators (journalists, bloggers, editors) | 2 | 5% |
Unknown | 1 | 3% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Unknown | 44 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Bachelor | 5 | 11% |
Researcher | 5 | 11% |
Student > Postgraduate | 5 | 11% |
Other | 4 | 9% |
Student > Master | 3 | 7% |
Other | 7 | 16% |
Unknown | 15 | 34% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Medicine and Dentistry | 15 | 34% |
Nursing and Health Professions | 2 | 5% |
Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Science | 2 | 5% |
Social Sciences | 2 | 5% |
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 1 | 2% |
Other | 4 | 9% |
Unknown | 18 | 41% |