title: Fusarium meningoencephalitis in a child with acute leukemia.
abstract: A 15-year-old boy with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) developed disseminated fusarium infection with meningoencephalitis following a contaminated skin wound. With antifungal therapy, the cutaneous lesions cleared but central nervous system (CNS) infection persisted causing a fibrosing meningitis and a brain granuloma. Fusaria are soil saprophytes that are more commonly associated with superficial eye and skin lesions, but may also cause severe systemic infections with CNS involvement in immuno-compromised patients. The organism may be confused with Aspergillus in tissue sections, and can only be diagnosed by culture.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Pediatrics (Hematology-Oncology), Children's Hospital Medical Center, Akron, Ohio.
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Agamanolis
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Kalwinsky
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Krill
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dasu
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Halasa
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Galloway
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005670:Fusarium / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008590:Meningoencephalitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D009181:Mycoses / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000150:complications*; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology; D000092464:Elbow Injuries
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents