Macrophomina phaseolina: an overlooked cutaneous infection, seed rot disease in humans

Area of Science:

• Mycology
• Infectious Diseases
• Dermatology

Background:

• Rare and emerging opportunistic fungal pathogens pose a significant threat to immunocompromised individuals.
• Macrophomina phaseolina, typically a plant pathogen, is increasingly recognized as a potential human pathogen.
• Fungal infections can manifest in various forms, including skin and eye infections.

Observation:

• A case of Macrophomina phaseolina cellulitis on the foot of a 42-year-old diabetic male from India is presented.
• The patient's infection presented as a soft tissue mass.
• Literature review indicates a very low number of documented human infections with this fungus.

Findings:

• Macrophomina phaseolina can cause localized cutaneous cellulitis in humans.
• Ocular keratitis is another potential manifestation of M. phaseolina infection.
• The majority of documented M. phaseolina infections have occurred in immunocompromised hosts.

Implications:

• Increased clinical suspicion for Macrophomina phaseolina is warranted in patients with risk factors, particularly those who are immunocompromised.
• This case underscores the importance of considering unusual fungal pathogens in the differential diagnosis of infections.
• Further research is needed to understand the epidemiology and clinical spectrum of Macrophomina phaseolina infections in humans.