Disseminated zygomycosis caused by Cunninghamella bertholletiae in patient with hematological malignancy and review of published case reports.

ABSTRACT

Cunninghamella bertholletiae is an unusual opportunistic pathogen belonging to the class Zygomycetes, order Mucorales, and the family Cunninghamellaceae. It has been identified with increased frequency in immunocompromised patients, especially those with hematological malignancy. Clinical infection by this fungus is almost always devastating. We report a fatal case of disseminated zygomycosis due to Cunninghamella bertholletiae in an acute myeloid leukemia patient without chemotherapy. We also reviewed the cases of Cunninghamella bertholletiae infection reported in these 20 years. These cases highlight the high mortality rate and rapid progression associated with this opportunistic fungal infection in immunocompromised patients.