2 IMPORTED CASES OF PENICILLIUM-MARNEFFEI INFECTION IN BELGIUM

Two imported cases of Penicillium marneffei infection in Belgium are r eported. Both patients are Thai women co-infected with HIV. P. marneff ei infection should be suspected in immunocompromised patients origina ting or travelling from South-East Asia with unexplained fever (>38 de grees C), weight loss, a generalised lymphadenopathy, hepatomegaly, sp lenomegaly, skin lesions, cough and anaemia. Diagnosis is made by cult ure and/or histopathological examination. Mild to moderate infections are treated with itraconazole 400 mg/day as first choice. Amphotericin B parenteral therapy may be required for seriously ill patients. Main tenance therapy with itraconazole 200 mg/day is necessary to prevent r elapses.