Fusarium falciforme infection of foot in a patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a case report and review of the literature

Mycopathologia. 2013 Oct;176(3-4):225-32. doi: 10.1007/s11046-013-9646-z. Epub 2013 Jun 30.

Abstract

Fungal infections of foot in patients with diabetes are not uncommon; however, foot infection due to Fusarium species has been rarely reported. We report here a case of a 50-year-old male with type 2 diabetes who developed multiple spontaneous nodular lesions on right foot without any systemic symptoms and signs for 6 months. The lesions were unresponsive to broad-spectrum antibacterial treatment. Fine needle aspiration cytology of nodular lesions revealed the presence of fungal hyphae, and Fusarium species was isolated from the same sample which was identified as Fusarium solani species complex: Fusarium falciforme. Radiological investigations and blood culture ruled out any dissemination of the disease. The lesions healed after voriconazole therapy for 3 months. No relapse was noted at the end of the next 6-month follow-up. All reported cases of Fusarium infection of foot in patients with diabetes in English and non-English literature since 1970 have been reviewed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use
  • Biopsy, Fine-Needle
  • Diabetes Complications / diagnosis*
  • Diabetes Complications / pathology*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / complications*
  • Foot / microbiology
  • Foot / pathology*
  • Fusariosis / diagnosis*
  • Fusariosis / pathology*
  • Fusarium / classification
  • Fusarium / isolation & purification*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pyrimidines / therapeutic use
  • Triazoles / therapeutic use
  • Voriconazole

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Pyrimidines
  • Triazoles
  • Voriconazole