Possible pathogenic role for Sporothrix cyanescens isolated from a lung lesion in a heart transplant patient.

Sporothrix cyanescens is a fungus rarely isolated from human specimens. Its pathogenic role has never been demonstrated but has been postulated on the basis of its occurrence in normally sterile body sites, its isolation from debilitated individuals and its thermotolerance. A first case of nodular pulmonary lesions developing in an immunosuppressed, heart transplant patient is reported. Sporothrix cyanescens was isolated from a fine needle lung biopsy. The patient failed to respond to itraconazole therapy, whereas he was successfully treated with amphotericin B.