Schizophyllum commune: an unusual agent of bronchopneumonia in an immunocompromised patient

Abstract

We report a case of bronchopneumonia due to Schizophyllum commune in an immunocompromised patient. While this fungus rarely causes disease in humans, it has been reported in association with several clinical entities and lung disorders. A 59-year-old white man with a gastric carcinoma was admitted to S. Giovanni Battista Hospital (Turin, Italy). Three days after the admission, he developed a bronchopneumonia, which was diagnosed through the use of X-ray and showed an abnormal infiltrative shadow. Samples of bronchial aspirate were collected for laboratory microbiological investigation. Direct microscopic examination of these specimens revealed the presence of numerous septate, hyaline hyphae and rare clamp connections. Sabouraud Dextrose Agar and Columbia agar plus 5% blood media inoculated with portions of the same specimens yielded, after 4-5 days of incubation at 25°C and 37°C, a cottony white mould. The fungus was identified on the basis of its macroscopic and microscopic morphology. The macroscopic examination of the colony showed raised, curved, fan-shaped and shell-like basidiocarps. The microscope examination revealed the presence of hyaline, septate hyphae with clamp connections and short, thin spicules. The fungal isolate was identified as S. commune. The patient was cured after therapy with intravenous fluconazole (600 mg twice daily for over six weeks).