Subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis caused by Hongkongmyces snookiorum in a kidney transplant patient: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Morbidity and mortality in transplant patients is increased by infection caused mainly by rare opportunistic pathogens. The present study reports a case where Hongkongmyces snookiorum caused subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis in a kidney transplant patient. CASE PRESENTATION: A 47-year old Chinese woman with chronic kidney disease 5 underwent kidney transplantation 3 years ago. Her regular medications included Tacrolimus (1 mg, two times daily), Mycophenolate Mofetil (two times 250 mg, twice daily) and Prednisone acetate tablets (5 mg daily). Eighteen months ago, her proximal right index finger was red, painful and swollen. After admission, a hard and fluctuating 1 cm × 1 cm abscess was found on the dorsal side of the right index finger. Gram and fluorescence staining of a direct smear of a syringe extraction from the abscess revealed presence of filamentous fungi. White velvet colonies (2-3 mm) were found on blood plate and Sabouraud glucose agar (SGA) after 1 week, and grey aerial hyphae were observed. After 15 days, a 26 mm gray colony was also observed on SGA. The homology between this filamentous fungus and Hongkongmyces snookiorum ILLS00125755 (Genbank Sequence ID: MH161189.1) was 99.66%. An in vitro antifungal susceptibility test showed that this filamentous fungus was sensitive to azoles such as itraconazole and voriconazole. CONCLUSIONS: We report an opportunistic fungus infection caused by Hongkongmyces snookiorum in a transplant patient. Our finding shows that prevention of subcutaneous fungal infection is necessary for kidney transplantation patients.

Clinical relevance of Scedosporium spp. and Exophiala dermatitidis in patients with cystic fibrosis: A nationwide study.

An increased prevalence of various filamentous fungi in sputum samples of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) has been reported. The clinical significance, however, is mostly unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical relevance of Scedosporium spp. and Exophiala dermatitidis from sputum samples of patients with CF in the Netherlands. In this cross-sectional study, all CF patients of the Dutch national CF registry who were treated at five of the seven recognized CF centers during a 3-year period were included. We linked clinical data of the national CF registry with the national Dutch filamentous fungal database. We investigated the association between clinical characteristics and a positive sputum sample for Scedosporium spp. and E. dermatitidis, using logistic regression. Positive cultures for fungi were obtained from 3787 sputum samples from 699 of the 1312 patients with CF. Scedosporium spp. was associated with severe genotype, CF-related diabetes, several microorganisms, and inhaled antibiotics. E. dermatitidis was associated with older age, female sex, and Aspergillus spp. CF patients with and without Scedosporium spp. or E. dermatitidis seemed comparable in body mass index and lung function. This study suggests that Scedosporium spp. and E. dermatitidis are probably no major pathogens in CF patients in the Netherlands. Greater understanding of epidemiologic trends, risk factors, and pathogenicity of filamentous fungi in the respiratory tracts of patients with CF is needed.

Community-acquired Disseminated Exophiala dermatitidis Mycosis with Necrotizing Fasciitis in Chronic Graft-versus-host Disease.

We herein report a case of systemic phaeohyphomycosis by Exophiala dermatitidis (E. dermatitidis) with chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The patient had been taking oral corticosteroids for years to control the GVHD. Yeast-like fungi were identified in a blood culture, so treatment with micafungin (150 mg/day) was begun, with no improvement. The patient passed away on hospital Day 12. A sequence analysis of rRNA revealed the isolate to be E. dermatitidis. This report brings attention to an emerging mycosis of community-acquired Exophiala species infection in the very-late phase after allogenic HSCT in patients with chronic GVHD.

Early-Onset Invasive Infection Due to Corynespora cassiicola Associated with Compound Heterozygous CARD9 Mutations in a Colombian Patient.

PURPOSE: CARD9 deficiency is an inborn error of immunity that predisposes otherwise healthy humans to mucocutaneous and invasive fungal infections, mostly caused by Candida, but also by dermatophytes, Aspergillus, and other fungi. Phaeohyphomycosis are an emerging group of fungal infections caused by dematiaceous fungi (phaeohyphomycetes) and are being increasingly identified in patients with CARD9 deficiency. The Corynespora genus belongs to phaeohyphomycetes and only one adult patient with CARD9 deficiency has been reported to suffer from invasive disease caused by C. cassiicola. We identified a Colombian child with an early-onset, deep, and destructive mucocutaneous infection due to C. cassiicola and we searched for mutations in CARD9. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records and immunological findings in the patient. Microbiologic tests and biopsies were performed. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was made and Sanger sequencing was used to confirm the CARD9 mutations in the patient and her family. Finally, CARD9 protein expression was evaluated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) by western blotting. RESULTS: The patient was affected by a large, indurated, foul-smelling, and verrucous ulcerated lesion on the left side of the face with extensive necrosis and crusting, due to a C. cassiicola infectious disease. WES led to the identification of compound heterozygous mutations in the patient consisting of the previously reported p.Q289* nonsense (c.865C > T, exon 6) mutation, and a novel deletion (c.23_29del; p.Asp8Alafs10*) leading to a frameshift and a premature stop codon in exon 2. CARD9 protein expression was absent in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from the patient. CONCLUSION: We describe here compound heterozygous loss-of-expression mutations in CARD9 leading to severe deep and destructive mucocutaneous phaeohyphomycosis due to C. cassiicola in a Colombian child.

Breakthrough Exophiala dermatitidis infection during prophylactic administration of micafungin during second umbilical cord blood transplantation after graft failure.

Exophiala dermatitidis infections in patients with hematological malignancies are very rare. Our patient had a blood stream infection caused by E. dermatitidis following the second umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT) after graft failure during the first UCBT. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing a breakthrough fungal infection caused by E. dermatitidis during the prophylactic administration of micafungin (MCFG). Therefore, MCFG-treated patients should be monitored for breakthrough E. dermatitidis infection during hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Cutaneous phaeohyphomycosis caused by Exophiala dermatitidis: A case report and literature review.

We report a case of cutaneous phaeohyphomycosis caused by Exophiala dermatitidis. An adult male presented with a 1 month history of erythematous swelling and ulcer on the right forearm. E. dermatitidis was identified from the lesion through microscopic examination, in vitro culture, cutaneous biopsy and molecular analysis. He was treated with oral itraconazole (400 mg/day) and showed improvement.

Invasive cutaneous Neoscytalidium infections in renal transplant recipients: a series of five cases.

BACKGROUND: Neoscytalidium species (formerly Scytalidium species) are black fungi that usually cause cutaneous infections mimicking dermatophytes lesions. Very few publications have reported invasive or disseminated infections. CASE PRESENTATION: In this paper, we report the clinical presentations, treatments and outcomes of five cases of invasive Neoscytalidium infections with cutaneous involvement, including two cases with disseminated infection, in five renal transplant recipients. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a series-albeit small-of renal transplant patients in whom this infection was identified. All cases occurred in a single hospital in Paris, France, between 2001 and 2011. Patients all originate from tropical area. CONCLUSION: Treatments of Neoscytalidium infection varied greatly, underlining the lack of a recommendation for a standardized treatment. All patients were cured after long-term antifungal therapy and/or surgical excision. Interestingly, one patient with disseminated infection involving the left elbow, the right leg, the lungs and the nasal septum was cured by medical therapy only without surgery. This may suggest that in contrast to others mycoses (such as mucormycosis), an adequate medical treatment could be sufficient for treating Neoscytalidium. We also point out the difficulties we had in diagnosing two patients with Kaposi's sarcoma because of the similarity of the lesions. Furthermore, our report underlines the need to check for this rare infection in immunocompromised kidney transplant recipients originating from tropical areas.

Multifocal phaeohyphomycosis caused by Exophiala xenobiotica in a kidney transplant recipient.

In recent years, black fungi have been increasingly reported as causing opportunistic infections after solid organ transplantation. Here, we report a case of insidious, relentless, and multifocal Exophiala xenobiotica infection in a kidney transplant recipient that eventually required multiple surgical excisions along with oral and intravenous antifungal combination therapy using liposomal amphotericin B and posaconazole. We compare the present case with all previously reported cases of Exophiala infection after kidney transplantation.

NOCARDIA BEIJINGENSIS PSOAS ABSCESS AND SUBCUTANEOUS PHAEOHYPHOMYCOSIS CAUSED BY PHAEOACREMONIUM PARASITICUM IN A RENAL TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT: THE FIRST CASE REPORT IN THAILAND.

We describe the first case of a psoas muscle abscess caused by Nocardia beijingensis and subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis caused by Phaeoacremonium parasiticum in a renal transplant recipient. The patient was treated for nocardiosis with percutaneous drainage and intravenous trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) combined with imipenem for 2 weeks, followed by a 4-week course of intravenous TMP/SMX and then oral TMP/SMX. During hospitalization for the psoas muscle abscess the patient developed cellulitis with subcutaneous nodules of his right leg. Skin biopsy and cultures revealed a dematiaceous mold, subsequently identified as P. parasiticum by DNA sequencing. The subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis was treated with surgical drainage and liposomal amphotericin B for 4 weeks followed by a combination of itraconazole and terbinafine. The patient gradually improved and was discharged home after 18 weeks of hospitalization.

Subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis due to Alternaria infectoria in a renal transplant patient: surgical treatment with no long-term relapse.

BACKGROUND: Phaeohyphomycosis can be caused by a number of different species, being the most common Alternaria alternata and Alternaria infectoria. The biggest risk factor for the development of the infection is immunosuppression. AIMS: We present the case of a 64-year-old male renal transplant patient who came to hospital for presenting a tumour in the Achilles region which had been gradually growing in size. METHODS: A skin biopsy was taken for histological study and culture of fungi and mycobacteria. Blood tests and imaging studies were performed. RESULTS: Histopathology study and cultures identified A. infectoria as the causal agent. Imaging studies ruled out internal foci of infection. The lesion was surgically removed with no signs of recurrence after 24 months of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: There are no treatment guidelines at present for cutaneous and subcutaneous Alternaria spp. infections. Various systemic antifungals have been used, either in combination with surgical removal or alone, with varying results. Surgery alone could be useful in the treatment of solitary, localised lesions in transplant patients in whom there are difficulties in controlling immunosuppression.

[Cutaneous and subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis caused by Exophiala jeanselmei after renal transplantation: a case report].

OBJECTIVE: We report a case of cutaneous and subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis caused by Exophiala jeanselmei after renal transplantation in Guangdong. A 66-year-old man who had a renal transplantation 6 years ago was admitted in October 2011 for the presence of 16 nodules (0.5-1.5 cm) found on his right middle finger, wrist and forearm for 5 months. Microscopic examination of the purulent exudate showed segmented and branched brown mycelium, and tissue biopsy and PAS staining showed fungal hyphae. The isolate was processed for morphological identification and molecular sequence analysis. A black colony was found after culture of the isolate on SDA at 26 degrees Celsius;, and small culture identified the isolate as Exophiala jeanselmei. ITS sequence analysis of the isolate showed a 100% homology with Exophiala jeanselmei. E-test strip was used in drug sensitivity test, and the isolate was sensitive to amphotericin B, voriconazole, itraconazole and fluconazole, but resistant to 5-flucytosine and caspofungin. Good response was obtained with surgical intervention, local injection and systemic antifungal treatment.

Subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis (mycotic cyst).

Phaeohyphomycosis designates fungal infections caused by pheoid or melanized fungi and characterized histopathologically by the presence of septate hyphae, pseudohyphae, and yeasts. Etiologic agents include Exophiala, Phoma, Bipolaris, Phialophora, Colletotrichum, Curvularia, Alternaria, Exserohilum, and Phialemonium sp. The most common are Exophiala jeanselmei and Wangiella dermatitidis. The clinical presentation depends on the immune status of the host: superficial (tinea nigra and black piedra); cutaneous (scytalidiosis) and corneal; subcutaneous (mycotic cyst); and systemic phaeohyphomycosis in the immunocompromised host. The mycotic cyst is a localized form, characterized by subcutaneous asymptomatic nodular lesions that develop after traumatic implantation of fungi, especially on the extremities. The average size of the cysts is 2.5 cm. KOH examination reveals pigmented yeasts, pseudohyphae, and hyphae. A cutaneous biopsy specimen usually shows an abscess or a suppurative granuloma with pigmented yeasts and pseudohyphae. The treatment of choice is surgical excision, but additional anti-fungal therapy is recommended for recurrent cases and immunocompromised patients.

Cutaneous phaeohyphomycosis caused by Exophiala spinifera in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Exophiala spinifera can induce both phaeohyphomycosis and chromomycosis. To date there have been 18 human infections caused by E. spinifera in the English literature. A case of E. spinifera-induced phaeohyphomycosis in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is described. Direct microscopic examination of the pus showed branched, septate and chained hyphae and spores. A dark green velvety colony grew on Sabouraud dextrose agar. Slide culture showed branched, septate hyphae and spine-like annellated conidiophores. Histopathological biopsy revealed yellowish brown hyphae and spores. The isolate was identified as E. spinifera by DNA sequence analysis. The strain was unable to liquefy gelatin, grew at 25°C to 39°C, and was sensitive to itraconazole, amphotericin B, and terbinafine. To our knowledge, this is the first case of cutaneous phaeohyphomycosis caused by E. spinifera in SLE patients.