Disseminated trichosporonosis in a burn patient: meningitis and cerebral abscess due to Trichosporon asahii

Abstract

A 44-year-old diabetic female presented to a hospital in Jamaica with thermal burns. Trichosporon asahii was isolated from facial wounds, sputum, and a meningeal swab. Dissemination of the fungus was demonstrated in stained histological sections of the meninges and a brain abscess at autopsy. Pure growth of the fungus from patient samples submitted and an environmental isolate obtained from a wash basin in the hospital supported the diagnosis.

Fig. 1.

Photomicrograph of brain tissue adjacent to an abscess cavity showing fungal elements of T. asahii. PAS staining; magnification, ×300.

Fig. 2.

Blood agar with T. asahii colonies showing radiating furrows and umbonate centers after 7 days of incubation at 37°C.

Fig. 3.

Photomicrograph of unstained T. asahii showing arthroconidia, some with terminal and oval conidia produced on CMA after 7 days of incubation at 25°C. Magnification, ×400.

Fig. 4.

Photomicrograph of T. asahii showing cubical to barrel-shaped arthroconidia produced on CMA after 7 days of incubation at 30°C. Magnification, ×400.