Surgical management of subcutaneous Colletotrichum gloeosporioides

Angioinvasive, cutaneous infection due to Colletotrichum siamense in a stem cell transplant recipient: Report and review of prior cases

Colletotrichum is an important fungal plant pathogen, yet an uncommon cause of human disease. Herein we report a case of invasive, cutaneous infection in a stem cell transplant recipient due to Colletotrichum species, with accompanying review of the literature. The infection was successfully treated with a combination of liposomal amphotericin B and voriconazole. Multilocus phylogenetic analysis revealed that the distinct isolate belongs to Colletotrichum siamense, a member of the Colletotrichum gloeosporioides species complex not previously described as a human pathogen. Colletotrichum infection remains in the differential for skin lesions in the immune compromised host.

Non-traumatic keratitis due to Colletotrichum truncatum

INTRODUCTION

The fungal genus Colletotrichum is an uncommon cause of human infections. It has been implicated in cutaneous phaeohyphomycosis, artritis and keratitis secondary to traumatic implantation.

CASE PRESENTATION

We report two cases of keratitis due Colletotrichum truncatum in middle-aged, immunocompetent persons without history of trauma. The aetiological agents were identified based on DNA sequencing. Azoles and echinocandins showed high minimal inhibitory concentrations while amphotericin B was ≤ 0.25  mg l^-1. Both patients failed topical antifungal treatment and needed penetrating keratoplasty with a favourable outcome.

CONCLUSION

C. truncatum caused keratomycosis which did not respond to topical antifungal agents. To the best of our knowledge these are the first reported cases of keratitis due to this fungus in Cuba and Latin-America and highlights the expanding spectrum of fungal agents causing eye infections.