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Primary mycotic abscess of the brain caused by Fonsecaea pedrosoi. Case report
V Santosh1, N Khanna, S K Shankar
1Department of Neuropathology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India.
Abstract:
A case of cerebral abscess caused by Fonsecaea pedrosoi is reported in a nonimmunocompromised 15-year-old boy. In the absence of a primary cutaneous lesion, this fungus was considered to be a primary neuropathogen. The fungus was cultured and characterized from the abscess material obtained at surgery. Prompt therapy using amphotericin B and 5-flucytosine helped in the successful recovery of this patient.
Insights
A rare cerebral abscess caused by Fonsecaea pedrosoi occurred in a healthy teen. This fungus acted as a primary neuropathogen, leading to successful treatment with antifungal medications.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Fonsecaea pedrosoi is a fungus typically causing cutaneous infections.
- Cerebral abscesses are serious infections of the brain, often bacterial.
- Primary neuropathogens are organisms that directly infect the central nervous system.
Observation:
- A 15-year-old, nonimmunocompromised boy presented with a cerebral abscess.
- No primary cutaneous lesion was identified, suggesting an unusual infection route.
- Fonsecaea pedrosoi was successfully cultured and identified from surgical abscess material.
Findings:
- The case demonstrates Fonsecaea pedrosoi acting as a primary neuropathogen in an immunocompetent host.
- Fungal culture and characterization confirmed the causative agent.
- Successful treatment was achieved using a combination of amphotericin B and 5-flucytosine.
Implications:
- This case expands the known spectrum of Fonsecaea pedrosoi pathogenicity.
- It highlights the importance of considering fungal etiologies in unexplained cerebral abscesses, even in healthy individuals.
- Effective antifungal therapy can lead to favorable outcomes for such rare infections.