AMPHOTERICIN-B TREATMENT OF FUNGEMIA DUE TO UNUSUAL PATHOGENS IN NEUTROPENIC PATIENTS - REPORT OF 2 CASES

Invasive fungal infections occur frequently in neutropenic patients al though only in recent years has the role of emerging fungi been clearl y established. We describe two cases of fungemia caused by Trichosporo n beigelii and Rhodotorula glutinis respectively in two neutropenic pa tients with hematological malignancies who were treated with amphoteri cin B. The first patient, with refractory multiple myeloma, died follo wing massive pneumonia despite therapy with amphotericin B and granulo cyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF); the second patient, with relap sed acute lymphatic leukemia and persistent fev er without any other c linical evidence, finally recovered, Amphotericin B continues to be co nsidered the ''gold standard'' in the treatment of invasive mycoses al though other approaches need to be tested for refractory infections.