Systemic protothecosis in an immunocompetent patient

Abstract

Background

Although uncommon, there is increasing interest and public health concerns of the pathogen Prototheca spp, a ubiquitous achlorophilic microalgae that can affect both humans and animals. High mortality rates have been reported in immunocompromised patients with disseminated infection, but no data is available in the immunocompetent population.

Case Presentation

We present the case of a 59-year-old man from rural area of Colombia who was admitted to the intensive care unit due to decompensated heart failure that was difficult to medically manage, with development of septic shock and isolation of Prototheca wickerhamii from blood culture. Fluconazole and Amphotericin B were given with successful outcome.

Conclusions

To date, protothecosis and its virulence factors and pathogenesis remain to be fully understood, in our case the isolation of this microalga and its implication of exacerbating chronic conditions such as heart failure is unclear. The medical-scientific community is invited to study this microorganism to determine effective management strategies, as well as its timely identification, treatment, and control, to avoid fatal outcomes.

Background

Infection due to Prototheca spp., a ubiquitous saprophytic achlorophilic microalgae is emerging in some clinical contexts and is considered a potential threat to public health [1]. This microorganism has been found to colonize skin, nails, respiratory and digestive tracts of humans and animals [2, 3]. Prototheca is also found in the environment reservoirs as well (e.g., slime flux of trees, grass, wastewater) [2, 3].

The importance of Prototheca spp lies in the sudden appearance and capacity of infection in immunocompetent and immunosuppressed individuals [2]. Although pathogenesis remains unclear, most cases of reported protothecosis were in immunocompromised patients. Few have been reported in immunocompetent individuals. The route of infection is still unknown, this along with the lack of clinical and diagnostic suspicion of protothecosis can lead to delays in appropriate diagnosis and management of this infection.

To date, few effective therapies are established, with no guidelines on performing susceptibility testing, its interpretation, and issues with quality control of in vitro susceptibility testing (i.e., MICs not always reproducible) [2, 3]. Management of protothecosis is also controversial with varying treatment responses with different regimens [3].

Herein, a clinical case is presented of an immunocompetent patient who was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) due to shock of unknown etiology with blood culture isolation of Prototheca wickerhamii.

Case presentation

A 59-year-old man, farmer, living in a rural area of Cartagena, ​​Colombia (elevation 17 m / 55.77 ft above sea level) was initially admitted to a peripheral hospital for decompensated heart failure. He has a history of hypertension, well-controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus (last HbA1c 2 months before admission was 6.6%), and congestive heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (LVEF 30%). At home, he takes carvedilol, spironolactone, furosemide, aspirin, and metformin.

Vitals at the other institution were unremarkable but had signs and symptoms of decompensated heart failure (dyspnea, fatigue, pitting edema, wheezing). Post-admission day 20, he was transferred to our ICU for hemodynamic monitoring due to high risk of shock and complications. On admission, his blood pressure was 106/84 mmHg, heart rate 116 beats/minute, 75% on room air returning to 96% with high-flow nasal cannula at 6 L/minute.

On physical examination he was afebrile, had no skin lesions, toxic appearance, or signs of systemic inflammatory response. He had jugular engorgement, normal cardiopulmonary auscultation, and Grade + 2 pitting edema of lower limbs. Chest x-ray showed signs of pulmonary congestion. Echocardiogram revealed a dilated heart disease, left ventricle with severe global systolic dysfunction, depressed ejection fraction 18%, severe biatrial dilatation and moderate mitral valve regurgitation without thrombi or vegetations.

Laboratory tests revealed acute kidney injury and mild metabolic acidosis (Table 1). His management was continuing home medications and adding angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB) and intravenous loop diuretic.

Table 1 Laboratory tests of interest during ICU stay

The patient presented a torpid evolution with the development of a febrile illness (temperature 38.6 °C) 3 days after admission to the ICU (23 days of hospitalization), associated with sustained ventricular tachycardia reaching values of 198 beats/minute and sustained hypotension with mean arterial pressure 63-66 mmHg. He was prescribed digoxin without improvement, followed by amiodarone infusion and full anticoagulation. Labs revealed severe leukocytosis with neutrophil predominance, and mild hepatitis.

Suspecting a possible infectious focus that decompensated the patient, septic workup was initiated and a carbapenem and antifungal (Fluconazole) were started given risk factors (comorbidities and prolonged hospitalization in another institution). Finally, blood cultures in two sets at 120 hours of incubation revealed the presence of achlorophyllic algae, confirmed as Prototheca wickerhamii by MALDI-TOF system. No other evidence of disseminated infection was documented. In this patient, the suspected source of infection was his home surroundings and occupation (farmer living in a rural area) along with risk factors such as diabetes.

The patient was assessed by Infectious Diseases who recommended fluconazole 400 mg IV/day and repeat blood cultures. Repeat blood cultures taken at 96 hours after initiating antifungals showed persistence of the microorganism, treatment was changed to liposomal Amphotericin B (5 mg/kg IV/day) for 14 days. Subsequent repeat blood cultures documented clearance of the algaemia post-treatment. Once the treatment was completed, he presented clinical and biochemical improvement, allowing hospital discharge.

In outpatient follow-up after discharge from hospital, he remains well off antifungals and asymptomatic.

Discussion

Regarding human protothecosis, more than 200 cases of infection by Prototheca spp were reported in the literature [2]. Clinical manifestations include cutaneous forms (66%), olecranon bursitis (15%) and disseminated or systemic infections (19%) [2]. No direct human-to-human transmission has been reported, but infection through contact (such as by traumatic inoculation or insect bites) with the algae from potential sources have been reported [3, 4]. Possible sources of Prototheca spp include rural areas, trees, grass, soil, sewage, animals (cattle, deer, and dogs), animal droppings, foods (e.g., butter, potato skins, bananas, cow’s milk) [3].

Disseminated infection and those with risk factors such as immunosuppression or oncological patients are associated with higher mortality rates, a mortality of 56% has been reported [2]. In immunocompetent patients there are still no data, nevertheless there are certain occupations that are considered at higher risk of exposure to the pathogen such as farmers, workers of rice paddies and fishermen [2, 3]. In our case, it was impossible to know if the microorganism was acquired before or during the hospital stay. Nosocomial infections have been reported, though primarily associated following orthopedic or surgical procedures [3], even though our patient did not receive any invasive procedures when he developed symptoms during his hospitalization. But we considered he was colonized before, and heart failure decompensation favored the systemic manifestation symptoms.

Virulence factors for protothecosis are unknown. Our patient with history of diabetes (reported as a potential risk factor for protothecosis) developed severe algaemia with decompensated heart failure leading to a critical state in the ICU. It is suggested that the presence of comorbidities (e.g. cancer, diabetes, steroid use, AIDS, alcoholism, dialysis, surgery) is a risk factor that facilitates the infectious condition, although it is still unknown if they determine the severity of the infection [3].

Identifying Prototheca spp. often requires both microbiological and histopathological testing performed by trained personnel, as relying on only one method may result in misidentification for other similar-appearing fungal pathogens [2, 3]. For microbiology, this may involve using automated microbiological analyzes (blood cultures), with the help of Sabouraud dextrose agar, Candida spp chromogenic agar, biochemical carbohydrate assimilation tests, immunofluorescence, and molecular analyses [5]. For histopathology, tissue biopsies can be prepared with periodic acid-Schiff (PAS), Hematoxylin and Eosin or Grocott-Gomori methenamine silver (GMS) staining, which may show a characteristic morula with a thick wall and internal septations, with associated chronic granulomatous inflammation and infiltration of histiocytes, lymphocytes, and giant cells [5]. It is worth to highlight the need for diagnostic suspicion to aid in identification of the organism microbiologically.

To date there is no defined standard treatment for this infection, antifungals (e.g, amphotericin B, itraconazole, fluconazole, voriconazole) and antibacterials (e.g, tetracycline, gentamicin, amikacin) have been used with variable success rates [6,7,8,9,10,11]. In Colombia, 10 cases of protothecosis shown in Table 2 have been described, this being the first in critical condition with hematogenous dissemination. All reported patients had favorable outcomes despite not having a standardized treatment and receiving different management strategies. There are no data indicating whether there is a condition differentiated by sex, although to date it seems that in Colombia it is more frequent in men.

Table 2 Reported cases of Protothecosis in Colombia from 1970 to 2021

Conclusion

In conclusion, systemic protothecosis has so far been surrounded by an aura of uncertainty. It is very likely that the infection is more frequent than we think, considering the difficulties in isolating and diagnosing it. As the reports of this disease progress, we will have more solid evidence on its epidemiological profile, cross-reaction with other microorganisms, standard preventive, and therapeutic measures for Prototheca spp in order to avoid fatal outcomes, particularly in patients with chronic diseases or states of immunosuppression.