P147 Fungal osteomyelitis in patients with chronic granulomatous disease: a case series from a tertiary care medical centre.
Authors: Sachdev Janya , Xess Immaculata , Singh Gagandeep , Kabra S.K. 
Published: September 2022

Poster session 2, September 22, 2022, 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

 

Objectives

To present details of a case series of fungal osteomyelitis initially misdiagnosed as disseminated tuberculosis, in pediatric patients with chronic granulomatous disease.

Method

Informed consent was obtained from the parents of three children (known cases of chronic granulomatous disease) with clinical features suggestive of chronic osteomyelitis. Clinical history was collected by interview and chart review. Samples were sent to the mycology laboratory for direct microscopy and fungal culture. Following a diagnosis of fungal osteomyelitis, antifungal therapy was administered and patients were monitored till discharge.

Results

First case:

The first patient presented with fever, cough and progressive painful swelling over the left lower chest, and a past history of recurrent pneumonia and cervical lymphadenopathy, which were previously empirically treated with anti-tubercular therapy (ATT) and broad-spectrum antibiotics. Imaging revealed a soft tissue abscess with underlying rib osteomyelitis and pulmonary consolidation. Pus samples showed hyaline septate hyphae in direct microscopy and growth of Aspergillus nidulans in culture. The patient was successfully treated with intravenous voriconazole, which was switched to oral formulation on discharge.

Second case:

The second patient presented with fever and post-auricular swelling with multiple discharging sinuses, and a past history of fever and hilar lymphadenopathy, which were previously empirically treated with ATT and broad-spectrum antibiotics. Imaging revealed osteomyelitis involving mandible, temporal bone and skull base, with underlying sigmoid sinus thrombosis. Pus and tissue samples showed hyaline septate hyphae in direct microscopy and growth of Aspergillus fumigatus in culture. The patient was successfully treated with a combination of intravenous voriconazole and liposomal amphotericin B, and discharged on oral posaconazole.

Third case:

The third patient presented with progressive painful swelling over the right upper chest, and a past history of pneumonia, hemoptysis, and mediastinal lymphadenopathy, which were previously empirically treated with ATT and broad-spectrum antibiotics. During a previous hospitalization, imaging showed features suggestive of fungal pneumonia; BAL showed hyaline septate hyphae in direct microscopy and growth of Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus in culture, providing a diagnosis of fungal pneumonia which was treated with voriconazole and liposomal amphotericin B. During the present admission, imaging of the chest lesion revealed pus collection with underlying rib osteomyelitis, communicating with a cavity in the middle lobe of the right lung. FNAC from the lesion showed hyaline septate hyphae in direct microscopy but no growth in culture (probably due to previous antifungal therapy). The patient was successfully treated with a combination of intravenous voriconazole and liposomal amphotericin B, and discharged on oral posaconazole.

Conclusions

Fungal pneumonia and fungal osteomyelitis are often misdiagnosed as tuberculosis or bacterial infections, leading to unnecessary and ineffective ATT or broad-spectrum antibiotics. A high index of suspicion for fungal osteomyelitis is required in pediatric patients with a history of recurrent/chronic soft tissue infections, preceded by febrile episodes and/or pneumonia, especially if a diagnosis of chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) has already been established; if not, this characteristic clinical picture should in fact warrant evaluation for CGD.