Disseminated fusariosis in children: Report of two cases in girls with leukemia

Alixandra De la Espriella; Andrea Restrepo; Mónica Trujillo; Karen Arango

doi:10.18502/cmm.8.1.9213

Alixandra De la Espriella CES University, Medellin, Colombia
Andrea Restrepo Pablo Tobón Uribe Hospital, Medellín, Colombia
Mónica Trujillo Pablo Tobón Uribe Hospital, Medellín, Colombia
Karen Arango Corporation for Center for Biological Research, Pontifical Bolivarian University, Medellin, Antioquia, Colombia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/cmm.8.1.9213

Keywords: Fusarium spp., Invasive fungal infection, Leukemia, Neutropenia

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Disseminated fusariosis is an opportunistic infection caused by the hyaline fungus Fusarium spp. and occurs mainly in patients with leukemia.

Case report: Two cases of disseminated fusariosis in pediatric patients are presented. Profound and prolonged neutropenia, fever, myalgia, and skin lesions in the legs were present in two girls with leukemia undergoing chemotherapy. In the first case, infection by Fusarium spp. was confirmed by anatomopathological findings, pathogen isolation, and polymerase chain reaction. In the second case, Fusarium solani infection was confirmed by mass spectrometry using blood cultures and skin lesion samples.

Conclusion: It is important to consider disseminated fusariosis in high-risk patients who present with profound and prolonged neutropenia and persistent fever that does not resolve after broad-spectrum antibiotics to initiate antifungal therapy in a timely manner.