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Lethal systemic dissemination from a cutaneous infection due to Curvularia lunata in a heart transplant recipient
Author(s) -
Tessari G,
Forni A,
Ferretto R,
Solbiati M,
Faggian G,
Mazzucco A,
Barba A
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of the european academy of dermatology and venereology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.655
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1468-3083
pISSN - 0926-9959
DOI - 10.1046/j.1468-3083.2003.00674.x
Subject(s) - medicine , skin biopsy , methylprednisolone , skin infection , sepsis , phaeohyphomycosis , biopsy , dermatology , heart transplantation , immunosuppression , surgery , transplantation , biology , bacteria , genetics , staphylococcus aureus
A 69‐year‐old male heart transplant recipient, being treated with Cell Cept, FK 506 and methylprednisolone had multiple deep brown skin nodules and nodes, on the upper right arm. Skin biopsy and culture detected a strain of Curvularia lunata . The infection disseminated to the whole skin surface, oral mucosa, upper third of the oesophagus and to the lungs. Therapy with antibiotics and antifungal drugs was ineffective. The patient died of sepsis. We did not find any other case of systemic dissemination from a skin infection due to C. lunata among heart transplant recipients. We feel that heart transplant recipients need adequate education to prevent situations that would put them at risk for infection and to seek medical advice immediately for an early diagnosis and an effective therapy.