Septic arthritis due to Fusarium solani

A case of Fusarium arthritis is reported. Fusarium, a mold ubiquitous in soil and on plants commonly causes keratomycosis and infects burns. Recent reports demonstrate that Fusarium may produce serious visceral infection in compromised hosts. Disseminated infection has been universally fatal. In contrast, our case and several others with localized visceral infection were cured by intravenous amphotericin B and drainage. Although Fusarium grows readily on mycologic media, blood and other cultures have usually been negative in disseminated infection. Physicians should be aware of this uncommon but potentially lethal pathogen because deep fungal infections may first appear as arthritis.