Case report


Novel origin of cerebral phaeohyphomycosis: A case report

Christopher Daniele MD, Miriam Ferguson MD, Cooper Phillips MD, Jinesh Lachmansingh MD, Jacob Nichols MD, John Fisher, Brady Holstead MS, Akwasi Opoku BA

ABSTRACT

Cerebral phaeohyphomycosis is infection of the central nervous system (CNS) caused by dematiaceous fungi. The most common mechanisms of infection are by direct extension from the paranasal sinuses or by hematogenous spread. The mortality rate is high and ranges from 50%–79% in the limited studies on this infection. Our case describes a young man without any preexisting disease who acquired cerebral phaeohyphomycosis following nasal inhalation of garden mushrooms. Despite aggressive treatment, he ultimately died due to this severe infection. Our case report discusses our treatment approach and reviews the literature on this deadly infection.

Keywords: fungal infection, cerebral abscess, Bipolaris, phaeohyphomycosis

Article citation: Daniele C, Ferguson M, Phillips C, Lachmansingh J, Nichols J, Fisher J, Holstead B, Opoku A. Novel origin of cerebral phaeohyphomycosis: a case report. The Southwest Respiratory and Critical Care Chronicles 2020;8(33):52–55

From: Departments of Internal Medicine (JN, JF, BH, AO) and Anesthesiology (CD, MF, CP, JL), Texas Tech, etc.

Submitted: 12/8/2019

Accepted: 1/15/2020

Reviewer: Kenneth Nugent MD

Conflicts of interest: none

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