Microsphaeropsis arundinis skin and soft tissue infection in renal transplant recipients: three case reports and a review of the literature

Abstract

Microsphaeropsis arundinis, a dematiaceous mold, is emerging as a cause of skin and soft tissue infection in immunocompromised hosts. Diagnosis is challenging because of the difficulty in identifying Microsphaeropsis species morphologically and few data are available to guide optimal management. We report 3 renal transplant recipients with M. arundinis soft tissue infection, where the etiological agent was diagnosed using DNA sequencing, and who were successfully treated with prolonged courses of extended-spectrum triazole antifungal agents.

Keywords: Microsphaeropsis arundinis; fungi; immunocompromised host; molecular typing; opportunistic infection; phaeohyphomycosis; renal transplantation; skin diseases, infectious; soft tissue infections.