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Published on: October 28, 2021
Interdigital intertrigo due to Fusarium oxysporum
M Bahmaei1, P Dehghan1, R Kachuei2
1Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Background And Purpose:
Fusariosis is a fungal infection often involving the skin. Various species can cause local, focally invasive, or disseminated infections. The routes of entry for Fusarium species include the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, toe nails, trauma to the skin, and indwelling central venous catheter.
Case Report:
Herein, we present the case of a 35-year-old woman presenting with interdigital intertrigo. The patient had no predisposing factors and she did not take any antifungal agents. Fusiform macroconidia were observed on the slide culture of the fungus. The etiological agent of the infection was identified as Fusarium oxysporum through sequencing of the translation elongation factor-1 alpha (TEF-1α) gene using the primers EF1 and EF2.
Conclusion:
Fusariosis commonly presents as a severe fungal infection in immunocompromised patients. However, this infection may also occur in immunocompetent patients. Although treatment with amphotericin B is a routine antifungal therapy for fusariosis, many azoles such as cloterimazole can be used topically with fewer side-effects.
Insights
This case study highlights Fusarium oxysporum causing skin infection in an immunocompetent individual. Topical azoles offer a viable treatment option for fusariosis, even in non-immunocompromised patients.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Dermatology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Fusariosis is a fungal infection caused by Fusarium species, often affecting the skin.
- Infections can be localized, focally invasive, or disseminated, with various routes of entry.
- While frequently seen in immunocompromised individuals, it can also occur in immunocompetent hosts.
Observation:
- A case of interdigital intertrigo caused by Fusarium oxysporum in a 35-year-old immunocompetent woman is presented.
- The patient had no known predisposing factors or prior antifungal use.
- Microscopic examination revealed characteristic fusiform macroconidia.
Findings:
- Molecular identification confirmed Fusarium oxysporum as the etiological agent via sequencing of the translation elongation factor-1 alpha (TEF-1α) gene.
- This case demonstrates a less common presentation of fusariosis in an immunocompetent patient.
Implications:
- Fusariosis, though often severe in immunocompromised patients, can affect immunocompetent individuals.
- Topical azole antifungals, like clotrimazole, present a potentially effective and well-tolerated treatment alternative to systemic therapies such as amphotericin B for fusariosis.
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