Never Say Never: Unexpected Pulmonary Pathogens Found on Autopsy in Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Recipients

Abstract

Hematopoietic cell transplantation is frequently complicated by infectious disease-related complications, especially pneumonia. Candida and enterococci are often overlooked as pulmonary pathogens with some clinicians firmly believing that these organisms never cause pneumonia. Here, we present a series of five cases of Candida pneumonia and five cases of enterococcal pneumonia found on autopsy in hematopoietic cell transplantation recipients. We will also review the literature regarding the epidemiology, risk factors, clinical manifestations, microbiologic findings, radiologic findings, and histopathological findings of these uncommon but serious clinical entities.