Rhinocerebral zygomycosis in a young girl undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation for severe aplastic anaemia

We report on a 10-year-old girl with severe aplastic anaemia who developed rhinocerebral infection caused by Absidia corymbifera and a possible co-infection caused by Alternaria alternata. Despite prolonged neutropenia, therapy with liposomal amphotericin B and posaconazole improved the clinical condition. Subsequently, the girl underwent allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for the underlying disease, but the fungal infection remained under control with the antifungal treatment. No severe side effect of the antifungal drugs was noted. Unfortunately, the girl died 5 months after HSCT due to disseminated adenovirus infection.