Penicillium marneffei infection and solitary pulmonary nodule

KC Chang, CK Chan, KC Chow, CW Lam
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ruttonjee Hospital, 266 Queen's Road East, Hong Kong

We report on a patient infected with human immunodeficiency virus who presented with fever, a solitary pulmonary nodule, and cervical lymphadenopathy. The diagnosis of Penicillium marneffei infection was made from an excisional lymph node biopsy and a sputum culture. The microbiology, pathology, diagnosis, and treatment of the case are discussed. A high level of clinical suspicion is necessary for making an early diagnosis and improving the outcome of infection.

Hong Kong Med J 1998;4:59-62

Key words: AIDS-related opportunistic infections; Antifungal agents; Coin lesion, pulmonary; HIV infections/complications; Penicillium