Fungus infections in leukaemic patients under immunosuppressive therapy

ABSTRACT

50 cases of haematologic malignant patients were studied. They were under immunosuppressive treatment. Isolation and identification of fungal infection were studied in throat washs, rectal swabs and blood cultures. These cases were selected from inpatients of National Cancer Institute, Cairo University with age ranged from 2 years to 50 years old. The incidence of fungal infection in each group was 70.5% in acute myeloid leukaemia [AML], 67% in acute lymphatic leukaemia [ALL] and 50% in malignant lymphoma. The only two cases available of chronic myeloid leukarmia [CML] were positive. The common fungal pathogens in our patients were Candida albicans followed by Candida tropicalis, Candida pseudotropicalis, Candida kruzei and Aspergillus species