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Pseudallescheria fusoidea, a new cause of osteomyelitis

Mark D Lindsley1, Josep Guarro, Raed N Khairy

  • 1Mycotic Diseases Branch, Division of Foodborne, Bacterial, and Mycotic Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. mlindsley@cdc.gov

Journal of Clinical Microbiology
|April 25, 2008
PubMed

Insights

This case report details a rare foot osteomyelitis caused by the mold Pseudallescheria fusoidea. The chronic infection developed years after a traumatic injury, highlighting a unique clinical presentation.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Orthopedics

Background:

  • Osteomyelitis, a bone infection, is often caused by bacteria.
  • Fungal osteomyelitis, particularly from molds, is uncommon and typically chronic.
  • Traumatic implantation is a known route for pathogen entry into bone.

Observation:

  • A unique case of chronic osteomyelitis affecting the foot is presented.
  • The causative agent identified was the mold Pseudallescheria fusoidea.
  • The infection originated from a traumatic injury sustained three years prior.

Findings:

  • This is the first reported case of osteomyelitis of the foot caused by Pseudallescheria fusoidea.
  • The mold infection presented as a slow-progressing, indolent disease.
  • The chronicity of the infection was linked to the delayed presentation after initial trauma.

Implications:

  • Highlights the potential for rare fungal pathogens to cause chronic bone infections.
  • Emphasizes the importance of considering fungal etiologies in recalcitrant osteomyelitis, especially after trauma.
  • Suggests a need for increased awareness of Pseudallescheria fusoidea in orthopedic infections.

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