Four Cases of Mold-Form Fungemia Related to Implantable Subcutaneous Central Venous Catheter

Mold form fungi such as Fusarium, Acremonium, and Sporothrix species are thought to represent contamination or harmless colonization when isolated from immunocompromised patients. More recently, the pathogenic role of these fungi has been clearly established. The role of implantable subcutaneous central catheters as potential portals of entry for mold form fungus has been underestimated. We describe four cases of implantable subcutaneous central catheter-related mold form fungemia in patients with cancer. One patient responded well only after removal of the implantable subcutaneous central catheter, two patients responded after catheter-removal and IV fluconazole but one patient did not in spite of catheter-removal and amphotericin B.ope