Fusarium Nail and Skin Infection: A Report of Eight Cases from Natal, Brazil

Abstract

Fusarium spp. are non-dermatophytic hyaline moulds distributed worldwide and recovered from the nature as soil saprophytes and plant pathogens. Human infections are usually precipitated by local or systemic predisposing factors and disseminated infection is associated with impaired immune responses. We report eight cases of cutaneous lesions caused by Fusarium spp. All patients were immunocompetent. Seven cases with presented onychomycosis and one patient with interdigital intertrigo. It is important to alert the medical community about the relevance of the opportunistic fungi, such as Fusarium spp., which have emerged as human infectious agents, emphasizing the importance of correct etiological identification, allowing for appropriate treatment.

Antimold Prophylaxis May Reduce the Risk of Invasive Fusariosis in Hematologic Patients with Superficial Skin Lesions with Positive Culture for Fusarium

“…While Fusarium spp. are well-known causes of onychomycosis (10), intertrigo is much less common (11). However, in this study, lesions of intertrigo were more likely to be associated with invasive fusariosis than with onychomycosis.…”

Fungal agents in different anatomical sites in Public Health Services in Cuiabá, state of Mato Grosso, Brazil

“…The increasing number of patients with immunocompromised states, such as AIDS, diabetes mellitus, lupus, allergy, cancer and organ transplantation, has given these infections more prominence 5,18,20,28,37,38,56 . Reports of infections by non-dermatophytes has also received greater attention 4,7,34,51 . In this study, Diabetes mellitus (6.0%) and allergies (3.7%) were observed in patients.…”

Onychomycosis caused by Fusarium sp in Sri Lanka: Prevalence, clinical features and response to itraconazole pulse therapy in six cases

“…Only a few cases of fingernail infections by this organism have been described (3,(5)(6)(7)(8). Although an unusual clinical pattern, the combination of proximal subungual onychomycosis with subacute or acute paronychia involving fingernails or toenails is highly suggestive of Fusarium sp.…”