Cunninghamella bertholletiae wound infection of probable nosocomial origin.
After closed reduction and casting of a tibial fracture in a 69-year-old diabetic man, a gangrenous lesion developed under the cast. Cultures of debrided tissue revealed multiple bacteria, including Bacillus sp, plus two fungi, Fusarium sp and a zygomycete identified as Cunninghamella bertholletiae. Large nonseptate hyphae in thrombosed blood vessels suggested that C bertholletiae played a major role in the development of the infection. Recovery of organisms from our patient's wound and from the cast padding suggests that the wound infection was acquired from nonsterile dressings.
D001458:Bandages / Q000009:adverse effects; D002370:Casts, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009090:Mucorales / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009091:Mucormycosis / Q000209:etiology*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology*; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000601:surgery