Fungal Olecranon Bursitis in an Immunocompetent Patient by Knoxdaviesia dimorphospora sp. nov.: Case Report and Review

Abstract

Bursitis is a common medical condition that can occur either with or without infection. We present a case of fungal olecranon bursitis in an immunocompetent individual caused by the new species Knoxdaviesia dimorphospora. It is a dematiaceous filamentous fungus characterized by the production of two different conidia: hyaline and cylindrical, which rise up from phialidic conidiogenous cells located in the upper part of differentiated and unbranched conidiophores, and pale brown and ellipsoidal conidia produced by phialidic conidiogenous cells which are born directly on hyphae. In addition to its morphological peculiarities, the novelty of the fungus was confirmed by sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions and D1/D2 domains of the 28S of the nuclear rRNA gene. The fungal infection was confirmed by cytological examination and repeated cultures. The infection was resolved by surgical debridement and drainage, and the patient presented a complete functional recovery 3 months later. The in vitro antifungal susceptibility to this new human opportunist is provided, terbinafine being the drug with the most potent activity.

Phaeohyphomycotic pseudotumor of the right elbow caused by Trematosphaeria grisea

“…4 While the olecranon region is prone to superficial injury, the development of fungal bursitis is exceptional and often associated with immunocompromised conditions. 5 Moreover, our report confirms that, in addition to eumycetoma, T. grisea can be a phaeohyphomycotic agent. Complex host-pathogen immune interactions determine the presenting clinicopathologic features of DF infection.…”