Alternaria infectoria brain abscess in a child with chronic granulomatous disease

E. Hipolito, E. Faria, A. Alves, G.S. de Hoog, J. Anjos, T. Goncalves, P.V. Morais, H. Estevao

    Research output: Contribution to journal/periodicalArticleScientificpeer-review

    27 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    In the present report, we describe the first case of a phaeohyphomycotic brain abscess in a 5-year-old boy with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) admitted to hospital with seizures. A computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a cerebral abscess and the microbiology study showed a dark, melanin-pigmented fungus, exhibiting only sterile hyphae. This fungus was identified by the amplification and sequencing of the 5.8S RNA gene and of the adjacent internal transcriber spacer domains, ITS1 and ITS2, as Alternaria infectoria. Due to the impossibility of a surgical excision, and although several therapeutic strategies were attempted, the patient died. Limitations in the routine identification procedures and therapeutic options of this emerging opportunistic agent are highlighted in this report.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)377-380
    JournalEuropean Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases
    Volume28
    Issue number4
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2009

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