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Chronic craniofacial dematiaceous fungal infection: a case report

Kishore Shetty1, Peter Giannini, Ronald Achong

  • 1Medically Complex Patient Clinic, Department of Restorative Dentistry, The University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston, USA. kishore.shetty@uth.tmc.edu

Special Care in Dentistry : Official Publication of the American Association of Hospital Dentists, the Academy of Dentistry for the Handicapped, and the American Society for Geriatric Dentistry
|August 25, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Curvularia fungal sinusitis can occur in immunocompetent individuals. Oral itraconazole effectively treated an invasive Curvularia infection in an immunocompetent patient.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Clinical Medicine

Background:

  • Curvularia, a dematiaceous mold, causes various human infections, primarily affecting the paranasal sinus, skin, and soft tissues in non-immunosuppressed individuals.
  • Systemic dissemination and endocarditis due to Curvularia are rare in immunocompetent hosts.
  • Optimal antifungal treatment for Curvularia infections remains undetermined, with varied responses reported for agents like amphotericin B, miconazole, ketoconazole, terbinafine, and itraconazole.

Observation:

  • A case of invasive dematiaceous fungal sinusitis caused by Curvularia is presented.
  • The affected patient was immunocompetent, challenging the typical presentation of severe Curvularia infections.

Findings:

  • Successful treatment of invasive Curvularia sinusitis was achieved with oral itraconazole.
  • This case highlights a successful therapeutic outcome in an immunocompetent patient.

Implications:

  • Oral itraconazole can be an effective treatment option for invasive Curvularia sinusitis in immunocompetent patients.
  • Further research into Curvularia treatment protocols is warranted, particularly for non-immunosuppressed populations.
  • This case contributes to understanding the clinical spectrum and management of Curvularia infections.

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