Combat-related pythium aphanidermatum invasive wound infection: Case report and discussion of utility of molecular diagnostics

Abstract

We describe a 22-year-old soldier with 19% total body surface area burns, polytrauma, and sequence-and culture-confirmed Pythium aphanidermatum wound infection. Antemortem histopathology suggested disseminated Pythium infection, including brain involvement; however, postmortem PCR revealed Cunninghamella elegans, Lichtheimia corymbifera, and Saksenaea vasiformis coinfection. The utility of molecular diagnostics in invasive fungal infections is discussed.