ABSTRACT
There are very few reports of pediatric patients with infections by dematiaceous filamentous fungi. In this publication we report a case of invasive fungal infection of the nasal septum by Curvularia spicifera in a pediatric patient with acute myeloid leukemia. The patient presented with a painful scabby wound in the nasal vestibule. Culture and universal PCR were consistent with Curvularia spicifera. Early management with surgical debridement and bi-associated antifungal therapy achieved complete resolution of the lesions, with no evidence of dissemination and relapses. Clinical management of these fungal infections represents a challenge as the antifungal selection and duration of therapy is not yet well stablished.
Existen pocos reportes de infecciones por hongos dematiáceos en pediatría. Comunicamos el caso de una infección fúngica invasora del tabique nasal en un niño con una leucemia mieloide aguda, que se presentó como una lesión costrosa dolorosa en el vestíbulo nasal. Se realizó desbridamiento quirúrgico precoz y recibió tratamiento antifúngico biasociado, lográndose resolución completa de las lesiones, sin diseminación ni recaídas. El cultivo y la RPC universal fueron compatibles con Curvularia spicifera. El manejo de estas infecciones fúngicas representa un desafío, considerando que la elección del agente antifúngico y la duración de la terapia no están completamente establecidas.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Child , Ascomycota/isolation & purification , Opportunistic Infections/complications , Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/complications , Nose Diseases/complications , Phaeohyphomycosis/complications , Neutropenia/complications , Opportunistic Infections/microbiology , Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/microbiology , Nose Diseases/microbiology , Phaeohyphomycosis/microbiology , Neutropenia/microbiologyABSTRACT
The study on the cultural characteristics of Bipolaris spicifera was conducted to provide with information for the identification, and inoculation studies, etc. B. spicifera grew well at 30~35degrees C and wide range of pH 5.0~9.0. However, the fungal growth was retarded at pH 4.0 and 10.0, respectively. Conidia were germinated with 70% at 30degrees C but maintained 50% germination even at 40degrees C, indicating that this pathogen could infect plants at relatively high temperature. The pathogen could not produce conidia under 24 hr fluorescent light condition for 7 days. In contrast, it produced many more conidia at 24 hr dark condition.
Subject(s)
Cultural Characteristics , Fungi , Germination , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Korea , Poaceae , Spores, FungalABSTRACT
Objective To isolate and identify pathogenic f ungus in a patient with intracranial infection.Methods Specimens were taken from the spinal fluid of the patient.Then,microsco py and fungal culture were done to identify the pathogen.The hi stopathologic features were reprod uced through animal pathogenicity s tudy in a mice model.Results According to the colony appearance i n culture medium,the morphological features in microscopy,such as conidia arrangement and size,germ tube forming site,this fungus was identified as Bipolaris spicifera.Hyphae and swollen hyphal cells resembling chlamydospores,septate pi gmented hyphae were observed in brain tissue specimen of mice experimental model,which were consiste nt with phaeohyphomycosis.Conclu-sion This is the first case of phaeohyphom ycosis caused by Bipolaris spicifera reported in China.