Morocco as a possible source for acquisition of Rhinocladiella mackenziei.

Rhinocladiella mackenziei cerebral phaeohyphomycosis is a rare severe disease that has been typically described in the Middle East. Here, we report 2 cases of R. mackenziei cerebral phaeohyphomycosis in patients from Morocco, diagnosed and treated in France, and raise a concern about the ever-going extension of the area at risk for this devastating invasive fungal infection.

Invasive cerebral phaeohyphomycosis in a Chinese boy with CARD9 deficiency and showing unique radiological features, managed with surgical excision and antifungal treatment.

We report this rare case of cerebral phaeohyphomycosis in a previously healthy Chinese boy, who was found to have caspase recruitment domain family member 9 (CARD9) deficiency. Initial radiological features suggested a neoplastic cerebral lesion, while histopathological examination supplemented by internal transcribed sequencing (ITS) of cerebral tissue confirmed the diagnosis of phaeohyphomycosis. He was treated with intravenous (IV) liposomal amphotericin B and voriconazole, guided by plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) level monitoring at drug initiation. At the 1 year follow-up, the patient demonstrated near complete neurological and radiological recovery.

Brain abscess caused by Cladophialophora bantiana after renal allograft loss: A case report / Absceso cerebral por Cladophialophora bantiana en un paciente con trasplante renal: reporte de un caso

Cerebral feohifomycosis are severe infections caused by dematiaceous fungi. Cladophialophora bantiana is one of the most commonly isolated species; it has central nervous system tropism and it often manifests as a brain abscess in immunocompetent patients. In immunocompromised patients, it can lead to brain abscesses and disseminated infections. Despite the availability of broad-spectrum antifungal drugs, it is a must to perform surgical management, in addition to drug therapy. However, mortality is high. The diagnostic approach must be invasive to establish a timely diagnosis and direct treatment based on culture and susceptibility tests. We report a case of brain abscess caused by C. bantiana in an immunosuppressed patient who was treated with surgical resection and voriconazole with an adequate response to therapy and without neurological sequels.

Las feohifomicosis cerebrales son infecciones graves causadas por mohos dematiáceos, entre los cuales Cladophialophora bantiana es una de las especies más comúnmente aislada. Esta tiene tropismo por el sistema nervioso central y frecuentemente produce abscesos cerebrales en pacientes inmunocompetentes; además, en los inmunocomprometidos también puede ocasionar infección diseminada. Pese a la disponibilidad de medicamentos antifúngicos de amplio espectro, a menudo se requiere también la intervención quirúrgica; de todas maneras, la mortalidad es elevada. El diagnóstico debe hacerse interviniendo para tomar la muestra y hacer el cultivo y las pruebas de sensibilidad. Se presenta aquí el caso de un paciente con trasplante renal que presentó un absceso cerebral por C. bantiana, el cual se extrajo mediante resección quirúrgica. El paciente recibió tratamiento con voriconazol, con adecuada respuesta, mejoría y sin secuelas neurológicas.

Absceso cerebral por Cladophialophora bantiana en un paciente con trasplante renal: reporte de un caso / Brain abscess caused by Cladophialophora bantiana after renal allograft loss: A case report

Resumen Las feohifomicosis cerebrales son infecciones graves causadas por mohos dematiáceos, entre los cuales Cladophialophora bantiana es una de las especies más comúnmente aislada. Esta tiene tropismo por el sistema nervioso central y frecuentemente produce abscesos cerebrales en pacientes inmunocompetentes; además, en los inmunocomprometidos también puede ocasionar infección diseminada. Pese a la disponibilidad de medicamentos antifúngicos de amplio espectro, a menudo se requiere también la intervención quirúrgica; de todas maneras, la mortalidad es elevada. El diagnóstico debe hacerse interviniendo para tomar la muestra y hacer el cultivo y las pruebas de sensibilidad. Se presenta aquí el caso de un paciente con trasplante renal que presentó un absceso cerebral por C. bantiana, el cual se extrajo mediante resección quirúrgica. El paciente recibió tratamiento con voriconazol, con adecuada respuesta, mejoría y sin secuelas neurológicas.

Abstract Cerebral feohifomycosis are severe infections caused by dematiaceous fungi. Cladophialophora bantiana is one of the most commonly isolated species; it has central nervous system tropism and it often manifests as a brain abscess in immunocompetent patients. In immunocompromised patients, it can lead to brain abscesses and disseminated infections. Despite the availability of broad-spectrum antifungal drugs, it is a must to perform surgical management, in addition to drug therapy. However, mortality is high. The diagnostic approach must be invasive to establish a timely diagnosis and direct treatment based on culture and susceptibility tests. We report a case of brain abscess caused by C. bantiana in an immunosuppressed patient who was treated with surgical resection and voriconazole with an adequate response to therapy and without neurological sequels.

Cerebral phaeohyphomycosis: case report.

Cerebral phaeohyphomycosis is a rare and frequently fatal disease. This disease is often caused by hematogenous spread of pathogens that are inoculated in the skin of the extremities after slight or minor trauma, and its mortality rate is rather high despite aggressive treatment. Our patient presented with headache and pyrexia. She was diagnosed with fungal meningitis and treated by systemic administration of voriconazole (VRCZ). However, after initial improvement, meningitis recurred. MRI of the brain showed multiple small masses in the cerebral hemisphere and she was thus referred to our Department of Neurosurgery. On admission, an examination showed that the masses were deeply located in the brain and were too small to be excised; therefore, treatment with systemic VRCZ and intrathecal amphotericin B was initially selected. However, the intracerebral masses continued to grow; therefore, they were surgically excised. Histological examination of the surgical specimens at that time identified the masses as granuloma caused by infection with Aspergillus niger. After the surgery, her general condition improved; therefore treatment with systemic and intrathecal antifungal agents were continued. However, the intracerebral masses recurred, and despite further aggressive surgical treatment and systemic and intrathecal antifungal administration, she died 43 months after the initial diagnosis. Autopsy examination showed that the cerebral lesions were phaeohyphomycotic granulomas. This paper describes the clinical presentation, histopathological results and treatment for this rare disease.