Death from fungus growing in patches in the airway after eating roasted termites

Roasted termites contain parasitic fungi

Bach Mai Hospital (Hanoi) recently received a female patient (60 years old, from Ninh Binh province) hospitalized in a state of respiratory failure Very serious fungal infection.

According to the patient’s family, before being admitted to the hospital, the patient went to Hoa Binh to buy live termites to make roasted termites to eat. After not using it all, the patient can put leftovers and live termites in the refrigerator next to fast foods (spring rolls, rolls…).

Pseudomembranous appearance caused by the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus in the lower lobes of the lungs on both sides M.Thanh

5 days after eating roasted termites, the patient appeared to have abdominal pain, defecation, hypotensionwas treated in the direction of septic shock at the provincial hospital but his condition did not improve.

Patients with severe shock, respiratory failure, must maintain a very high dose of vasopressor, mechanical ventilation but the lungs are constricted, the ventilator cannot push air into the lungs for ventilation.

Due to his severe condition, the patient was transferred to Bach Mai Hospital.

Directly treating the patient, Dr. Nguyen Ba Cuong (Center for Intensive Care, Bach Mai Hospital) said that the patient was transferred to Bach Mai Hospital on May 30 with severe respiratory failure and lung failure. Ventilation is no longer guaranteed even with maximal ventilatory support. Patient has been treated ECMO and continue active resuscitation measures: antibiotics, antifungals, dialysis, vasopressors…

Right on day 30/5, the patient underwent bronchoscopy, the results showed that many pseudomembranous plaques appeared in the lower lobes of the lungs on both sides.

With the experience of treating many complicated cases, doctors immediately thought of the cause of a fungal infection.

On June 1, bronchoscopy showed that pseudomembranous (inflammation membrane is milky white) developed on the entire mucosa of the patient’s airway, creating clusters of warts and interlaced pseudomembranous membranes like spider webs. bronchial lumen.

On 2.6, endoscopy continued to see the pseudomembranous adhesions in the airway wall gradually peeled off.

All airway specimens showed filamentous fungal staining results. The result of fungal culture was determined to be Aspergillus fumigatus. Histopathological images showed Aspergillus fumigatus pseudomembranous grouping.

On June 6, despite being treated by doctors and nurses, the patient’s condition did not improve. The patient died after 6 days of intensive treatment at 2 hospitals.

Parasitic fungi cause very serious diseases

According to the treating doctor at the Intensive Care Center, Bach Mai Hospital, Aspergillus fumigatus is an opportunistic fungus that parasitizes many types of animals. insect and in the environment.

The image of Aspegillus fumigatus on the histopathological stain M Thanh

When the body is immunocompromised (such as severe illness…) fungi have the opportunity to grow and cause disease with very severe symptoms (especially respiratory) with a very high mortality rate.

Through the case of the above patient, doctors recommend that people do not eat foods made from insects and should not be stored with other foods. food other.