Interdigital intertrigo due to Fusarium oxysporum

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.