Disseminated cutaneous fusariosis in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patient and dramatic response with oral itraconazole


1 Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
2 Department of Microbiology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India

Date of Web Publication 09-Jan-2018

Correspondence Address:
Dr. Satyendra Kumar Singh
Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh – 221 005

Abstract

Fusarium species are known to cause disseminated cutaneous lesions in immunocompromised patients. Some cases of fusariosis are reported in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. There are two reports in such patients with systemic comorbidities like lymphoma, neutropenia and infective port-a-catheter. Another reported patient had systemic fusariosis, without skin involvement. Diagnosis and treatment of cutaneous fusariosis is difficult and resistance to antifungals is a problem. Our patient was at an advanced human immunodeficiency virus infection stage with disseminated cutaneous fusariosis, without any systemic involvement, who responded completely to oral itraconazole.

 

Keywords: Disseminated, Fusarium, human immunodeficiency virus, itraconazole

 

How to cite this article:
Kumari I, Singh SK, Chauhan RK, Kaushal SK. Disseminated cutaneous fusariosis in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patient and dramatic response with oral itraconazole. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 2018;84:362-8

 

How to cite this URL:
Kumari I, Singh SK, Chauhan RK, Kaushal SK. Disseminated cutaneous fusariosis in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patient and dramatic response with oral itraconazole. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol [serial online] 2018 [cited 2020 Sep 7];84:362-8. Available from: http://www.ijdvl.com/text.asp?2018/84/3/362/222753

 

  Introduction Top

Fungal infections cause cutaneous lesions either directly or are metastatic in immunocompromised patients. Fusarium species are common plant pathogens that cause localized and disseminated infection (in immunocompromised and neutropenic patients). Majority of patients (72%–91%) have cutaneous lesions (primary or metastatic).[1] Diagnosis of disseminated cutaneous infection is difficult. The treatment is quite unsatisfactory due to the variable susceptibility of the pathogen to antifungals and the lack of supporting evidence. We herein report a rare case of disseminated cutaneous fusariosis, without systemic involvement, in a patient infected with the human immunodeficiency virus, who responded successfully to itraconazole.

  Case Report Top

A 40-year-old farmer presented with multiple, painless, raised skin lesions with pus discharge, which were of one-and-a-half months  duration. Lesions began to appear on the face and progressed to both his arms and thighs over a period of 1 week. He was earlier diagnosed to be infected with the human immunodeficiency virus, with CD4 T-lymphocyte count of 38 cells/μL, and was on highly active antiretroviral therapy from an antiretroviral therapy center for the past 6 months.

The patient was afebrile with no other systemic complaints. On examination, his body mass index was 18.88 kg/m [2]. Multiple erythematous and tender papules and nodules with central crusting and necrosis were present on the face, neck, and bilaterally on arms and on thighs extending to the knees [Figure 1]. Trunk, distal extremities, palms, soles and mucosae were spared. There was no history of trauma and no clinically apparent onychomycosis or any breach in the skin other than the lesions present. Clinically, the possibility of cryptococcosis (common opportunistic infections in human immunodeficiency virus patients) and ecthyma gangrenosum were considered. Lymph nodes examination revealed no significant enlargement.

Figure 1

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On hematological investigation, no significant abnormality was found. Blood culture was negative for any bacterium or fungus. All other possible systemic involvements were ruled out by appropriate tests, mainly computed tomography of the chest, x-rays of the paranasal sinuses and abdominal ultrasonography. Skin biopsy from a nodule on the arm revealed pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia and intraepidermal granulomas with giant cells. Periodic acid–Schiff staining was positive for spores and short fungal hyphae. An additional sample of the excised nodule was sent for microbiological examination.

A 10% potassium hydroxide wet mount of tissue revealed septate, hyaline and branched fungal hyphae. The specimen was cultured on two sets of Sabouraud dextrose agar, incubated at 37°C and 25°C. After 4 days of incubation, a heavy growth of fungal colonies was seen at 25°C in the form of a white and cotton obverse and orange reverse suggestive of Fusarium [Figure 2]. Growth was observed on successive subcultures performed on potato dextrose agar. Lactophenol cotton blue mount showed septate, branched hyphae producing microconidia (oval small 2–4 × 4–8 μm with 1–2-celled reniform conidia singly and in clusters) and many branched conidiophores with phialides producing 2–4 × 11–60 μm multiseptate (3–4), sickle or boat-shaped macroconidia typical of Fusarium solani [Figure 3]. Later, another tissue sample was sent for repeat isolation of fungus in order to confirm the species.[2]

Figure 2

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Figure 3

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Minimal inhibitory concentrations and minimal effective concentration were determined following the microdilution method recommended by Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute document M38-A2 with minor changes.[3] Fluconazole, amphotericin-B and terbinafine were ineffective in inhibiting growth of F. solani. Among sensitive drugs, itraconazole, ketoconazole and voriconazole had minimal inhibitory concentration 90 of 2 μg/ml each [Figure 4].[4],[5],[6]

Figure 4: Minimal inhibitory concentrations by microdilution method in round-bottomed 96-well microdilution tray

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Our patient was prescribed itraconazole 200 mg twice daily and response was seen in 2 weeks, with complete subsidence of lesions in 1½ months, leaving postinflammatory hyperpigmentation and scarring [Figure 5]. Itraconazole was continued at a tapered dose of 100 mg twice daily for a further 3 months.

Figure 5

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  Discussion Top

Fusarium species are ubiquitous soil saprophytes and plant pathogens that may cause infections in humans, in localized, locally invasive and disseminated forms. Fusarium species now represent the second most common mold causing opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients.[7]F. solani was the most frequent, followed by Fusarium oxysporumFusarium verticillioidis and Fusarium moniliforme among 12 species associated with infection.[8]

Skin involvement represents a frequent manifestation (>50%) of infection by Fusarium species and is also the most common source of diagnostic material. Distinct patterns of skin involvement exist, depending on the immune status of the host.[9] Sampathkumar and Paya classified the cutaneous lesions into three groups: violaceous nodules with central necrosis, ecthyma gangrenosum-like and target lesions.[10] In immunocompromised patients, skin lesions evolve rapidly over a short period of time and can involve any site, with predominance in the extremities.

The principal portal of entry for Fusarium species is the airways, followed by skin at the site of tissue breakdown (trauma, burns and onychomycosis) and foreign bodies (keratitis in contact lens wearers). Other sources are tap and hospital water system. The fact that we could not establish the entry portal of the fungus in our patient might be explained by the fact that skin breakdown may precede infection by up to 1 year.[9]

Disseminated infections occur when two or more noncontiguous sites are involved.[9] Immunocompromised patients with prolonged and profound neutropenia (hematologic diseases) and/or severe T-cell deficiency (allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation) and high-dose corticosteroid therapy are at the highest risk.[1],[9] So far, disseminated cutaneous fusariosis in human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients is very rarely known. In a review published in 2002, out of 259 patients with fusariosis, 232 (90%) patients were immunocompromised. Skin involvement was seen in 181 (70%) patients and was more common in immunocompromised group (72% vs. 52%).[9] Out of 232 patients, only two were human immunodeficiency virus positive of which one had an infected port-a-catheter and other patient had non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma with neutropenia.[11],[12] Another case was reported in human immunodeficiency virus patient without skin involvement and neutropenia in 2013.[13] Hence, we state that this is the first reported case of isolated disseminated cutaneous fusariosis and the third case of disseminated fusariosis in a human immunodeficiency virus infected patient [Table 1].

Table 1: Cases of disseminated fusariosis in human immunodeficiency virus patients

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The most frequent pattern of disseminated disease is a combination of cutaneous lesions and positive blood cultures with or without involvement of other sites.[8] Interestingly, in a previous review among patients with positive blood culture, skin lesions preceded fungemia in 11 patients by a median of 5 days, occurred on the same day (4 patients) and did not appear until after the diagnosis of fungemia was made (3 patients).[8] In this case, the blood culture was negative for Fusarium similar to a previous review where 78 (52.7%) patients had blood cultures negative for Fusarium species.

Different patterns of susceptibility of different Fusarium species exist and there is not enough data documenting a correlation between minimal inhibitory concentrations and the clinical outcome. Amphotericin B has been used as the first-line drug but resistance to it has been reported and even our case was found to be resistant to it.[14] Newer antifungal triazole agents are available for Fusarium species including itraconazole, voriconazole and posaconazole. Susceptibility to itraconazole has been shown in some reports but at higher minimal inhibitory concentration which is even higher for F. solani.[15],[16] The results of itraconazole against localized fusariosis have been documented but rarely against disseminated cutaneous fusariosis. This variable susceptibility to these drugs poses a great problem for the physicians.

Our case of disseminated cutaneous fusariosis is being reported for the first time and is unique since the cause of immunocompromised state is only human immunodeficiency virus without any associated neutropenia, concomitant malignancy or any systemic involvement. Moreover, the excellent response of Fusarium to itraconazole is worth reporting.

Declaration of patient consent

The authors certify that they have obtained all appropriate patient consent forms. In the form, the patient has given his consent for his images and other clinical information to be reported in the journal. The patient understands that his name and initial will not be published and due efforts will be made to conceal his identity, but anonymity cannot be guaranteed.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

  References Top

 

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Eljaschewitsch J, Sandfort J, Tintelnot K, Horbach I, Ruf B. Port-a-cath-related Fusarium oxysporum infection in an HIV-infected patient: Treatment with liposomal amphotericin B. Mycoses 1996;39:115-9.  Back to cited text no. 11
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Pereira GH, de Angelis DA, Brasil RA, dos Anjos Martins M, de Matos Castro e Silva D, Szeszs MW, et al. Disseminated amphotericin-resistant fusariosis in acute leukemia patients: Report of two cases. Mycopathologia 2013;175:107-14.  Back to cited text no. 14
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