title: Fusarium brain abscess: case report and literature review.
abstract: Severely immunocompromised patients such as those with haematological malignancies and haematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients are at an increased risk of acquiring invasive mould infections. Fusarium, a ubiquitous fungus, can cause potentially fatal infections in such hosts. It usually manifests as skin lesions, fevers and sino-pulmonary infections. Brain abscesses have been reported, but are relatively uncommon. We report a case of a 50-year-old patient with acute lymphocytic leukaemia and failed autologous peripheral stem cell transplant that presented with new onset seizures and was found to have Fusarium solani brain abscess. Nasal route was the presumed mode of entry of the fungus into the cerebrum. Treatment comprised surgical excision of the lesion, and antimycotic therapy with liposomal amphotericin B and voriconazole. Despite aggressive therapy, patient succumbed to the disease. We have provided an overview of infections secondary to Fusarium, along with a review of the central nervous system involvement by this pathogenic mould.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Disease, Allegheny General Hospital, Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Raquel Ramos
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Zaw
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: Supriya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Narasimhan
authors.forename: Nitin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bhanot
mesh_terms: D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001922:Brain Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D020314:Central Nervous System Fungal Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D060585:Fusariosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D005670:Fusarium / Q000166:cytology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008875:Middle Aged; D036102:Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000150:complications*; D011859:Radiography; D012640:Seizures; D065819:Voriconazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; C068538:liposomal amphotericin B; D000666:Amphotericin B; D065819:Voriconazole
keywords: Fusarium; abscess; stem cell transplant