Disseminated Phialophora parasitica infection in humans: case report and review

Abstract

A case of recurrent systemic infection caused by Phialophora parasitica occurred in an elderly woman and over a 4-year period was documented (either clinically or at autopsy) to involve two sites on the chest wall, the hip, the vertebral body, and the aorta. The infection was treated with intravenous amphotericin B and a subsequent course of terbinafine. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of disseminated infection by P. parasitica with systemic involvement as well as of its treatment with terbinafine. The literature on human infection caused by P. parasitica, which is rare and has occurred in both normal and compromised hosts and with and without antecedent trauma, was reviewed; problems encountered both in the laboratory identification of P. parasitica and in therapy were assessed.