Primary cutaneous aspergillosis in six leukemic children

• Published in: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology Vol. 12; no. 2; pp. 313 - 318
• Main Authors: Grossman, Marc E., Fithian, Ellen C., Behrens, Crystal, Bissinger, Janet, Fracaro, Margaret, Neu, Harold C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Mosby, Inc 01.02.1985; Elsevier
• Subjects: Amphotericin B - therapeutic use; Aspergillosis - drug therapy; Aspergillosis - etiology; Aspergillus - isolation & purification; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child, Preschool; Cross Infection - etiology; Dermatomycoses - drug therapy; Dermatomycoses - etiology; Equipment Contamination; Female; Hematologic and hematopoietic diseases; Humans; Leukemia, Lymphoid - complications; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute - complications; Leukemias. Malignant lymphomas. Malignant reticulosis. Myelofibrosis; Male; Materials Management, Hospital; Medical sciences; Infection; Human; Pathology; Skin disease; Primitive; Mycological investigation; Mycosis; Leukemia; Aspergillosis; Hemopathy; Skin; Child
• ISSN: 0190-9622; 1097-6787
• DOI: 10.1016/S0190-9622(85)80042-6

We report a cluster of primary cutaneous aspergilloses in six children with hematologic malignancy. When first seen, they had hemorrhagic bullae caused by Aspergillus flavus (3), Aspergillus fumigatus (2), and Aspergillus niger (1) at the sites of insertion of intravenous cannulas or where arm boards had been taped to the extremities. Rapid diagnosis of cutaneous aspergillosis was made by direct examination of the blister roof with potassium hydroxide before it progressed to a necrotic ulcer. Intravenous amphotericin was instituted promptly in five of six patients, and none died of disseminated aspergillosis. Epidemiologic investigation tracked the source of Aspergillus to a storeroom with a false ceiling that had recently been repaired for a water leak.