Atypical Aspergillus flavus isolates associated with chronic azole therapy

J Clin Microbiol. 2009 Oct;47(10):3372-5. doi: 10.1128/JCM.00671-09. Epub 2009 Aug 5.

Abstract

A case of chronic sinus disease due to morphologically atypical Aspergillus flavus is described. Multiple fungal isolates sporulated poorly or not at all, displaying unusual color and microscopic morphology, including the absence of typical vesicles and phialides, which caused the isolates to resemble several other fungal genera superficially. The patient received multiple antifungal therapies over at least 10 years with various azole drugs, including voriconazole, itraconazole, and posaconazole. We speculate that this lengthy exposure to azole antifungal drugs may have caused or promoted the atypical morphology seen in these isolates.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Aspergillosis / diagnosis*
  • Aspergillosis / drug therapy*
  • Aspergillosis / microbiology
  • Aspergillus flavus / cytology
  • Aspergillus flavus / growth & development
  • Aspergillus flavus / isolation & purification*
  • Azoles / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Itraconazole / therapeutic use
  • Middle Aged
  • Pyrimidines / therapeutic use
  • Sinusitis / drug therapy*
  • Sinusitis / microbiology*
  • Triazoles / therapeutic use
  • Voriconazole

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Azoles
  • Pyrimidines
  • Triazoles
  • Itraconazole
  • posaconazole
  • Voriconazole