Sclerotium formation in an Aspergillus flavus wound infection

A patient studied at autopsy was found to have a post-operative wound infection with Aspergillus flavus in which there was the formation of fungal structures resembling sclerotia. The ability of Aspergillus to form sclerotia in tissue appears to be rare and is related to the strain of Aspergillus flavus. Since sclerotia are considered as structures capable of withstanding dramatic shifts in the environment, the production of these in tissue may affect the efficacy of antifungal therapy.