Renal Allograft Mucormycosis: An Unusual Case Report

Abstract

Mucormycosis of the renal allograft is an extremely rare and rapidly fatal infection with an incidence of 0.2−1.2%. The major predisposing risk factors are uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, immunosuppression, anti-rejection treatment, unrelated donors, and cytomegalovirus infection. We describe a case of 27-year-old young adult patient who underwent a live-related renal allograft transplant at our centre and presented 4 weeks post-transplant with high-grade fever and rapid rise in serum creatinine. Initial cultures were repeatedly sterile, and imaging studies were normal. A few days later, he developed graft tenderness, and contrast CT abdomen revealed graft pyelonephritis. He was non-responsive to broad-spectrum antibiotics, and renal function gradually declined to anuric state. Prophylactic antifungal was added and hemodialysis was initiated. A graft biopsy was done, which revealed infiltration of the graft kidney with mucor species. After a week of antifungal treatment, graft nephrectomy was done and dual antifungals were continued. The patient initially improved symptomatically but again deteriorated with new onset fever and pain abdomen. Repeat imaging revealed a moderate intra-abdominal collection managed with per-cutaneous aspiration showing sterile growth and an abdominal drain kept in situ. Four days later, there was an accidental intra-abdominal drain expulsion with oozing of pus with blood which increased acutely with a sudden drop in blood pressure and hematocrit. Emergency exploration was done, which revealed a rent in the external iliac artery. After vascular rent repair surgery, the patient initially showed gradual improvement hemodynamically, but later, he developed superadded bacterial infection at the graft nephrectomy wound site with refractory septic shock and expired. Though early diagnosis, appropriate antifungal agents, and graft nephrectomy may improve the patient outcome, the case fatality rate of renal graft mucormycosis still remains very high.