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Review
. 2022 Dec 31;12(1):67.
doi: 10.3390/pathogens12010067.

Lomentospora prolificans Disseminated Infections: A Systematic Review of Reported Cases

Afroditi Konsoula  1 , Aris P Agouridis  2   3 , Lamprini Markaki  4 , Constantinos Tsioutis  2 , Nikolaos Spernovasilis  5   6
Affiliations
Review

Lomentospora prolificans Disseminated Infections: A Systematic Review of Reported Cases

Afroditi Konsoula et al. Pathogens. .

Abstract

Background: Lomentospora prolificans, a rare, highly virulent filamentous fungus with high rates of intrinsic resistance to antifungals, has been associated with different types of infections in immunocompromised as well as immunocompetent individuals.

Objective: To systematically address all relevant evidence regarding L. prolificans disseminated infections in the literature.

Methods: We searched Medline via PubMed and Scopus databases through July 2022. We performed a qualitative synthesis of published articles reporting disseminated infections from L. prolificans in humans.

Results: A total of 87 studies describing 142 cases were included in our systematic review. The pathogen was most frequently reported in disseminated infections in Spain (n = 47), Australia (n = 33), the USA (n = 21), and Germany (n = 10). Among 142 reported cases, 48.5% were males. Underlying conditions identified for the majority of patients included malignancy (72.5%), hemopoietic stem cell transplantation (23.2%), solid organ transplantation (16%), and AIDS (2%). Lungs, central nervous system, skin, eyes, heart and bones/joints were the most commonly affected organs. Neutropenia was recorded in 52% of patients. The mortality rate was as high as 87.3%.

Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first systematic review conducted on disseminated infections due to this rare microorganism. Physicians should be aware that L. prolificans can cause a diversity of infections with high mortality and primarily affects immunocompromised and neutropenic patients.

Keywords: Lomentospora prolificans; dissemination; fungal infection; immunocompromised.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
PRISMA flow diagram of article selection process.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Worldwide distribution of L. prolificans disseminated disease.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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