Beyond the lungs: a case report of disseminated cutaneous aspergillosis highlighting clinical dilemmas in invasive fungal infections of critically ill patients

With opportunistic fungal pathogens increasingly recognized as a global public health threat, the population at high risk for invasive fungal infections (IFIs) has expanded beyond traditionally immunocompromised individuals—such as those with malignancies, organ transplantation, diabetes mellitus, or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)—to include critically ill patients in intensive care units (ICUs) receiving invasive support and immunomodulatory therapies. Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is one of the most lethal opportunistic infections in this population, characterized by insidious onset, clinical heterogeneity, and a lack of specific signs, often resulting in delayed diagnosis. Disseminated or breakthrough aspergillosis carries an exceedingly high mortality rate. We report the case of a female patient admitted to the ICU with fulminant myocarditis who required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), and immunomodulation. Her hospitalization was complicated by a progressive pulmonary infection, and metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) of respiratory specimens identified Candida albicans, Aspergillus spp. and Staphylococcus hominis, prompting an adjustment in antimicrobial therapy. Subsequently, the patient developed multiple cutaneous nodules, which tissue biopsy and mNGS confirmed as invasive cutaneous aspergillosis. Despite aggressive antifungal treatment with isavuconazole and amphotericin B, her condition deteriorated rapidly, leading to disseminated cutaneous necrosis, irreversible septic shock and multiorgan failure. This case highlights the clinical importance of recognizing atypical IFI presentations. Heightened clinical suspicion for disseminated fungal disease is warranted in critically ill patients with extrapulmonary lesions. Prompt microbiological diagnosis and antifungal resistance surveillance are essential for effective antifungal therapy.