# Scedosporiosis in a Combined Kidney and Liver Transplant Recipient: A Case Report of Possible Transmission from a Near-Drowning Donor

Authors: Rachael Leek; Erika Aldag; Iram Nadeem; Vikraman Gunabushanam; Ajay Sahajpal; David J. Kramer; Thomas J. Walsh
Journal: Case Reports in Transplantation
 (2016)

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## Abstract

Scedosporiumspp. are saprobic fungi that cause serious infections in immunocompromised hosts and in near-drowning victims. Solid organ transplant recipients are at increased risk of scedosporiosis as they require aggressive immunosuppression to prevent allograft rejection. We present a case of disseminatedScedosporium apiospermum infection occurring in the recipient of a combined kidney and liver transplantation whose organs were donated by a near-drowning victim and review the literature of scedosporiosis in solid organ transplantation.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

Scedosporiumis a saprobic fungus that naturally occurs in soil, manure, sewage, and water bodies polluted by environmental contaminants. Cases of infections withScedosporiumspp. are reported worldwide and can range in severity from colonization or local infection to disseminated disease [1–5].S. apiospermum most commonly infects the lungs as inhalation is often the suspected mode of organism acquisition [6].The genusScedosporium includes, but is not limited to, three species that cause life-threatening infections in humans:Scedosporium apiospermum,Scedosporium prolificans(recently renamedLomentospora prolificans), andScedosporium aurantiacum[7].Scedosporiumspp. appear as branching septate hyphae when isolated on standard culture media.Scedosporiumspp. have been implicated in near-drowning accidents [8–10]. IndeedScedosporiumspp.are the most common cause of fungal pneumonia, infection of the central nervous system, and disseminated disease following near-drowning events. There are few cases of donor to recipient transmission of infection ofScedosporiumspp. and even fewer reports of near-drowning donor transmission of diseases [11, 12]. We report the clinical course and management of disseminatedS. apiospermum infection in a combined kidney and liver transplantation case receiving organs from a brain-dead donor who suffered a near-drowning accident; we further review the literature on scedosporiosis in solid organ transplant recipients.


## 2. Case Presentation: Donor

A 41-year-old male fell into a freshwater lake. Emergency responders pulled him from the lake and return of spontaneous circulation was achieved after twenty minutes of resuscitation. Subsequent chest radiographs showed development and worsening of bilateral opacities suspicious for pneumonia. Brain death was declared three days after hospital admission.


## 3. Case Presentation: Recipient

A 66-year-old male actively listed for a kidney and liver transplant presented to the surgical intensive care unit with sepsis and an oxacillin-sensitiveStaphylococcus aureusbacteremia. He was treated with appropriate antibiotic therapy. He then developed acute tubular necrosis requiring continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH). The patient had a chest X-ray showing mild pulmonary congestion and bronchoscopy was not performed as the patient did not show signs of pneumonia. After two weeks within his admission, the patient was treated forEscherichia coli bacteremia with piperacillin-tazobactam. Repeat blood cultures were negative after two days of therapy.While the patient was hospitalized, a donor became available. The donor kidney and liver were grossly normal. The patient underwent a combined kidney and liver transplant for chronic kidney failure with associated liver cirrhosis caused by the hepatitis C virus and alcoholism. The explanted liver was cirrhotic without any malignancy. At the time of transplantation, the patient’s Model for End Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score was 40, having been decompensated in the surgical intensive care unit for the previous month. A summary of the patient’s immunosuppression and antifungal management after transplant is provided in Figure1.Figure 1
Antifungal agents and immunosuppression management.The patient was given methylprednisolone 500 mg and mycophenolate mofetil 1,000 mg intraoperatively as induction immunosuppression. Maintenance immunosuppression protocols were followed after transplant. CVVH was performed intraoperatively and was discontinued on postoperative day (POD) 1 when renal graft function improved. The patient’s hospital stay was complicated by a contained urine leak from the ureteroureterostomy which was managed nonoperatively with drains and ureteral stents. On POD 8, the patient was transferred out of the intensive care unit and on POD 14, to the inpatient rehab care unit as graft function continued to improve. The hepatic transaminases fluctuated and, on POD 25, he was transferred back to the surgical intensive care unit with peritonitis. As infection was suspected, immunosuppression was restricted to the use of corticosteroids tapered down to prednisone 5 mg daily. The patient was taken back to the operating room on POD 28 for a peritoneal washout. Cultures obtained during the procedure are presented in Tables1 and 2. Of most concern was theS. apiospermumisolated from the perihepatic, perinephric, and biloma fluid. Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was performed the following day, which did not reveal any extravasation. Discovery ofS. apiospermum prompted contact with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Disease Transmission Advisory Committee (DTAC) of the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), and the transplant centers treating recipients of allografts from the same donor. Other recipients had no evidence of infection.Table 1
Culture results.
Date Culture site Source Result POD 28 Abdominal fluid Surgical specimen C. tropicalis E. faecalis E. coli M. morganii  POD 28 Biloma fluid Surgical specimen E. faecium E. faecalis S. apiospermum C. tropicalis  POD 28 Perihepatic fluid Surgical specimen S. apiospermum E. faecium C. tropicalis  POD 28 Perinephric hematoma tissue Surgical specimen S. apiospermum  POD 32 Abdominal clot Surgical specimen S. apiospermum  POD 32 Intestinal serosal tissue Surgical specimen S. apiospermum E. faecium  POD 50 LUQ abdominal fluid Surgical specimen C. glabrata C. tropicalis  POD 50 Cerebrospinal fluid Lumbar puncture NegativeTable 2
Susceptibility testing of fungal isolates.
Isolate Resistant (MIC) Intermediate (MIC) Susceptible (MIC) Scedosporium apiospermum 5-Fluorocytosine (>64),amphotericin B (>16),caspofungin (>8),micafungin (>8),terbinafine (>2) None Voriconazole (1)  Candida tropicalis None None Caspofungin (≤0.25),fluconazole (≤1),voriconazole (≤0.12)  Candida glabrata None None Caspofungin (2),fluconazole (≤1),voriconazole (≤0.12)On POD 28, due to worsening hemodynamics and peritonitis, another laparotomy and another washout were performed to evacuate an infected hematoma. The entire peritoneal surface was lined with mold. On POD 32, a mold suggestive ofScedosporiumspp. grew from surgical cultures. Expert opinion for the management of our patient’s suspectedS. apiospermum infection was to use voriconazole targeting a trough of 2–4 mcg/mL, which we started on POD 32. Additionally, terbinafine was started for suspected synergy with voriconazole. A sample of theS. apiospermum was sent out for synergy studies which were expected to take a week or more to be conclusive. On POD 41S. apiospermum was identified. Laboratory results suggested terbinafine was not synergistic with voriconazole. Additionally, terbinafine is distributed rapidly to skin and bone and as such is not distributed well into visceral tissue and accumulation of terbinafine may cause hepatotoxicity. In response, terbinafine was discontinued and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) initiated on POD 42. The patient developed neurologic deficits with decreased vision to the right side and blurred vision bilaterally on POD 46. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain, shown in Figure 2, revealed multiple ring-enhancing lesions in the supratentorial compartment consistent with hematogenous central nervous system (CNS) scedosporiosis. We continued treatment with antifungal therapy. He developed septic shock and expired on POD 55.Figure 2
MRI of the brain. Multiple ring-enhancing lesions with associated diffusion restriction and T2/FLAIR hyperintensity are present throughout the supratentorial white matter.


## 4. Discussion

Differential diagnoses for opportunistic pathogens causing pneumonia related to near-drowning events include several key pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Gram negative bacteria are most often the causative agents in near-drowning cases [13].Aeromonas spp. have been described most often in near-drowning pneumonia cases.Aeromonasspp. naturally thrive in fresh and brackish waters and have been isolated in humans in wound and gastrointestinal infections after exposure to contaminated water. Other potential bacterial pathogens includePseudomonas aeruginosa,Legionellaspp.,Klebsiellaspp., and other Enterobacteriaceae [13].Scedosporiumspp. are the most common cause of invasive fungal infection, including pneumonia, CNS disease, and dissemination following near-drowning.We identified 60 published cases of scedosporiosis after solid organ transplantation between the year 2000 and the present. Few were cases of scedosporiosis after solitary liver transplantation (5/60); most were reported following solitary lung (18/60) or kidney (18/60) transplantation. Table3 [2, 12, 14–42] provides a summary of the comprehensive literature review performed.S. apiospermumwas isolated in the majority of cases, thoughS. prolificans andS. aurantiacum were also isolated. In four cases, bothS. apiospermumandS. prolificans were identified in the same patient. In patients who had infections with a single isolate ofScedosporiumspp., the observed mortality rates ofS. apiospermum, S. prolificans, andS. aurantiacum were 54.5% (24/44), 70% (7/10), and 100% (3/3), respectively (excluding four cases with combined infections). Observed mortality of allScedosporiumspp. infections was 59% (36/61) including our patient case.Table 3
Review of solid organ transplant-associatedScedosporium infection.
Ref # Year Recipient information Recipient organ(s) Species ofScedosporium Treatment approach Outcome Age (years) Gender [14] 2000 67 Male Heart apiospermum Voriconazole Deceased  [15] 2001 42 Female Heart/lung apiospermum Fluconazole, itraconazole Deceased 22 Female Heart/lung prolificans+apiospermum Fluconazole, itraconazole Deceased 42 Male Heart/lung prolificans + apiospermum Fluconazole, itraconazole Alive 49 Male Lung prolificans + apiospermum Fluconazole, itraconazole Deceased 39 Male Lung prolificans + apiospermum Fluconazole, itraconazole Alive 52 Female Lung apiospermum Fluconazole, itraconazole Alive 38 Female Heart/lung apiospermum Fluconazole, itraconazole Deceased  [16] 2002 58 Female Liver apiospermum Itraconazole, miconazole Alive 37 Male Lung apiospermum Itraconazole Deceased 30 Male Lung apiospermum Amphotericin B, miconazole Deceased 37 Female Heart/lung apiospermum Miconazole Deceased 39 Male Liver apiospermum 5-Flucytosine, amphotericin B Deceased 67 Male Heart apiospermum Itraconazole, voriconazole Deceased 36 Male Kidney apiospermum Itraconazole, miconazole Deceased  [17] 2002 49 Male Kidney apiospermum Voriconazole Deceased  [18] 2002 62 Female Kidney apiospermum None Deceased 58 Male Kidney apiospermum Itraconazole, voriconazole Alive  [19] 2002 64 Female Lung apiospermum Amphotericin B, itraconazole Deceased  [20] 2002 71 Male Heart apiospermum Itraconazole Alive  [21] 2003 24 Male Lung apiospermum Voriconazole Alive 59 Male Kidney apiospermum Voriconazole Alive  [22] 2004 50 Male Kidney apiospermum Voriconazole Alive  [23] 2004 58 Male Kidney apiospermum Amphotericin B, fluconazole, itraconazole, miconazole Alive  [24] 2004 56 Female Lung prolificans Voriconazole Deceased  [25] 2005 55 Male Small bowel prolificans Amphotericin B Deceased 40 Male Kidney/pancreas prolificans Voriconazole Alive 67 Male Kidney apiospermum Amphotericin B Alive 51 Female Small bowel prolificans Amphotericin B, Voriconazole, caspofungin Deceased 67 Male Heart apiospermum Voriconazole Deceased 17 Male Liver prolificans Voriconazole Deceased 64 Male Liver apiospermum None Deceased 45 Male Heart apiospermum Itraconazole Deceased 56 Male Liver apiospermum Voriconazole Deceased 44 Female Heart prolificans Amphotericin B Deceased 68 Male Kidney prolificans Voriconazole Alive 52 Male Small bowel apiospermum Amphotericin B, Voriconazole, caspofungin Alive 62 Male Kidney/pancreas apiospermum Voriconazole Alive  [26] 2005 26 Female Lung apiospermum Miconazole, voriconazole Deceased  [27] 2006 58 Male Kidney apiospermum Miconazole, voriconazole Alive  [28] 2006 57 Male Lung apiospermum Terbinafine, voriconazole Alive 63 Male Lung apiospermum Liposomal amphotericin B, terbinafine, voriconazole Alive  [29] 2007 59 Female Kidney apiospermum Voriconazole Alive  [30] 2007 43 Male Lung apiospermum Caspofungin, itraconazole, liposomal amphotericin B Deceased  [31] 2008 70 Male Kidney prolificans Terbinafine, voriconazole Alive  [32] 2009 65 Female Kidney apiospermum Voriconazole Alive  [33] 2010 37 Female Lung apiospermum Caspofungin, terbinafine, voriconazole Deceased  [34] 2011 16 Female Lung apiospermum Voriconazole Alive  [35] 2012 35 Male Lung/liver apiospermum Caspofungin, voriconazole Deceased  [36] 2012 37 Female Lung apiospermum Aerosolized amphotericin B, caspofungin, itraconazole, voriconazole Deceased  [37] 2013 17 Female Lung apiospermum Caspofungin, posaconazole, voriconazole Alive  [38] 2013 70 Female Lung prolificans Caspofungin, terbinafine, voriconazole Deceased  [39] 2014 50 Female Kidney apiospermum Voriconazole Alive  [40] 2014 35 Male Kidney prolificans Itraconazole, liposomal amphotericin B, micafungin, voriconazole Deceased  [41] 2015 70 Male Heart apiospermum Posaconazole, terbinafine Deceased  [12] 2015 19 Male Heart aurantiacum Amphotericin B prophylaxis Deceased 56 Male Kidney aurantiacum Itraconazole, liposomal amphotericin B Deceased 57 Female Kidney aurantiacum Caspofungin, voriconazole Deceased  [2] 2015 40 Male Kidney apiospermum Voriconazole Deceased  [42] 2015 18 Female Lung apiospermum Terbinafine, voriconazole AliveKim et al. reported three fatal and two nonfatal cases of scedosporiosis following solid organ transplantation from the same donor who was victim to a near-drowning accident [12]. Additionally, they reviewed national Korean data on transplants and found that, among 2600 deceased-donor transplants over thirteen years, 27 (1%) of donors were victims of drowning. We accessed data from the United States Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network and found a similar rate: in 2015, 102/7586 (approximately 1.3%) of solid organ donors died of near-drowning events [43]. While this is a low percentage of all donors, the significance of our case is enhanced by the 58.3% mortality rate of infections involvingScedosporium spp. after solid organ transplantation.At our center, liver transplant recipients are given antifungal prophylaxis based on their risk level. We stratify higher risk patients as those with MELD scores greater than 35, renal failure, requiring hemodialysis or CVVH prior to transplantation, recurrent spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, or preoperative prealbumin less than 10. High risk liver transplant recipients receive micafungin intravenously unless resistantCandida glabrata,Aspergillusspp., orCryptococcusspp. are suspected; in such cases, amphotericin B lipid complex or voriconazole would be used. Our patient was classified as high risk and given micafungin prophylaxis.All cases of suspected donor-derived infections should be reported to the DTAC. Communications with the CDC, DTAC, and the centers treating the recipients of the other organs provided by this donor revealed the recipient of the heart was receiving voriconazole prophylaxis, while the recipients of the other kidney and the pancreas were not. To the best of our knowledge, no other recipient of this donor’s organs is infected withScedosporiumspp. The other centers were advised by the CDC to commence voriconazole prophylaxis for an undetermined duration. Expert opinion for the management of our patient’s scedosporiosis was voriconazole targeting a trough of 2–4 mcg/mL. Additionally, immunosuppression was to be limited or discontinued to improve infection clearance.S. apiospermum is inherently resistant to amphotericin B, including the lipid formulations. Of the newer triazole antifungals, data on thein vitro activity of voriconazole is most robust, showing activity againstS. apiospermum with MICs of 0.12 to 0.5 mcg/mL in clinical isolates [30]. Because of poor activity with single agents, various antifungal combinations have been examined for efficacy againstS. apiospermum. Strong synergy was foundin vitro between voriconazole and terbinafine against clinical isolates ofScedosporiumspp.[30]. Combination of micafungin and voriconazole has demonstrated a synergistic effect against several fungiin vitro includingScedosporiumspp. The synergistic mechanism may include reorganization of the cell wall allowing increased exposure of beta-glucan to the immune system [44].In addition to antifungal agents, GM-CSF has been studied with some success [44, 45]. While antifungal therapy remains crucial to recovery, the treatment of scedosporiosis infections depends on the function of the host’s innate immune system, in particular, polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs). The mechanism of GM-CSF increases the antifungal action of PMNsin vitro [45].Despite good allograft function, our patient did not survive disseminated infection withS. apiospermum after combined kidney and liver transplantation. The exact mode of transmission and acquisition ofS. apiospermumin this patient remains uncertain. We suspect donor to recipient transmission as the donor was the victim of a near-drowning event and had chest radiographs suspicious for pneumonia; however, we cannot rule out recipient colonization or nosocomial infection after the transplant.Infections caused byScedosporiumspp. following solid organ transplant, while not common, are often fatal for recipients. There are no standards of practice for prophylaxis for patients at risk for developing scedosporiosis, such as recipients of organs from nearly drowned donors. Considering our case and the scedosporiosis mortality rate over 50% and the low rate of nearly drowned donors, we recommend screening forScedosporiumspp. when donated organs originate from a near-drowning victim.



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