Fusarium fungaemia in immunocompromised patients

Clin Microbiol Infect. 2004 Jun;10(6):499-501. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-0691.2004.00859.x.

Abstract

Fusarium spp. cause infections only rarely in immunologically competent hosts, but disseminated infection may occur in severely immunocompromised patients. Symptoms of disseminated infection are persistent fever, despite broad-spectrum antibacterial and antifungal treatment, associated with skin lesions, most commonly on the extremities, in 60-80% of patients. A mortality rate of 50-75% has been reported for patients with disseminated fusariosis. Despite treatment failures, amphotericin B remains the preferred drug, in part because of lack of alternatives. Voriconazole is a promising new agent, but more clinical experience is required.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Denmark
  • Female
  • Fungemia / diagnosis*
  • Fungemia / microbiology
  • Fusarium / isolation & purification*
  • Hematologic Diseases / complications*
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mycoses / diagnosis
  • Mycoses / microbiology