Invasive mold infections in cancer patients: 5 Years' experience with Aspergillus, Mucor, Fusarium and Acremonium infections

Twenty systemic mold infections due to hyphic fungi (molds) arising within the last 5 years in a 60-bed cancer department are analyzed. The most frequent risk factors were plants in ward (75%), prior therapy with broad spectrum antibiotics (70%), catheter insertion (70%), acute leukemia (65%) and neutropenia (60%). Before death, a definitive diagnosis was made in 40%, and a presumptive diagnosis in 60% of patients; post mortem the presumptive antemortem diagnosis was confirmed in all cases (100% of patients). Aspergillosis was the most common invasive fungal disease (55%), followed by mucormycosis (15%), fusariosis (15%), and acremoniosis (10%). Of 20 patients, 8 (40%) were cured or improved after antifungal therapy with amphotericin B, ambisome and/or itraconazole; 8/20 (40%) died of fungal infection and 4/20 (20%) of underlying disease with fungal infection. Even though the diagnosis was made and antifungal therapy started before death in 15/20 (75%), invasive mold infection had a 60% overall mortality in patients with malignant disease.