Korean Journal of Medical Mycology  2003;8(3):122-126

A Case of Systemic Fungal Infection due to Fusarium oxysporum in a Patient with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia.

Sung Bin CHO 1 ; Jin Wook LEE ; Young Hun CHO ; Kwang Hoon LEE

Affiliations

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Keywords

Fusarium oxysporum; Acute lymphocytic leukemia

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

Korean

Abstract

Fusariosis is a rare infectious disease caused by species of the genus Fusarium that has been increasingly documented as an emerging agent of opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients and, occasionally, immunocompetent hosts. We describe an 18-year-old Korean male, previously diagnosed as acute lymphocytic leukemia, presented with 2~4 cm-sized erythematous to necrotic papulonodules on the trunk and extremities for a week. White blood cell count was 200 cells/L and biopsy specimen showed structures resembling fungal elements in the dermis and subcutaneous fat. Cultures from a biopsy sample growing whitish cottony colonies contained fusoid multiseptated macroconidia. He was diagnosed as fusariosis and treated with intravenous amphotericin B. But white blood cell count and clinical symptoms didn't improve and he was expired after 6 days of treatment.