Cutaneous fusarium disease and leukaemias: A systematic review.

Abstract

The present study analyses the clinical characteristics of patients diagnosed with cutaneous fusarium through a systematic review of cases reported in literature. A total of 39 cases were included, of which 53% were men, 30% were women, and in 17% the sex was not specified. The age ranged from 5 to 85 years. Most cases were reported in Brazil, followed by Japan and United States of America. The most common agent was Fusarium solani, in 37.5% of the patients. Most of the affected individuals had acute myeloid leukaemia and some of the predisposing factors, which included induction chemotherapy, febrile neutropenia, and bone marrow transplantation. The clinical topography of the lesions was located in 27.5% and disseminated in 72.5%, with the most observed clinical feature outstanding the presence of papules and nodules with central necrosis in 47% of the cases. Longer survival was demonstrated in those treated with more than three antifungals. It is concluded that cutaneous fusarium is a complex and challenging clinical entity, infection in patients with leukaemias underscores the need for thorough care to decrease morbidity and mortality.