amphotericin-b and Hemiplegia

Rhinocerebral mucormycosis is a rare, fulminating opportunistic fungal infection caused by a fungus of the order mucorales. These fungi are ubiquitous, subsisting on decaying vegetation and diverse organic material. Although the fungi and spores of mucorales show minimal intrinsic pathogenicity towards normal persons, they can initiate aggressive and fulminating infection in the immune compromised host. Because rhinocerebral mucormycosis occurs infrequently it may pose a diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma for those who are not familiar with its clinical presentation. We present a patient with classical presentation of rhinocerebral mucormycosis involving the paranasal sinuses, the orbit and cranial base who, was treated by a combination of aggressive surgical and medical therapy and subsequently had surgical repair of the oral defect. The purpose of this presentation is to draw attention to the clinical presentation and pathogenesis of rhinocerebral mucormycosis and to emphasise the need for high index of suspicion in its diagnosis and management.

Topics: Amphotericin B; Antifungal Agents; Combined Modality Therapy; Debridement; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Diagnosis, Differential; Facial Paralysis; Hemiplegia; Humans; Kenya; Male; Middle Aged; Mucormycosis; Nose Diseases; Opportunistic Infections; Orbital Diseases; Paranasal Sinus Diseases; Rare Diseases; Skull Base; Treatment Outcome

A 30-year-old male and a 40-year-old female presented with Aspergillus fungal granuloma in the cerebral locations involving the gasserian-ganglion and its divisions in one case and was densely adherent to the lateral dural wall of the cavernous sinus in the other. Both patients were otherwise healthy with no evidence of immuno-suppression. The lesions resembled benign tumor on preoperative imaging and intraoperative consistency and vascularity. The lesions were successfully and completely resected. Both patients developed major cerebral arterial territory infarcts in the postoperative phase, remote from the site of operation, leading to crippling neurological deficits in one patient and death in the other. The unusual location and the unusual and similar clinical course suggests that awareness of the possibility of ischemic complications after surgical resection of intracranial aspergillomas is necessary.

Topics: Adult; Amphotericin B; Aspergillosis; Cavernous Sinus; Cerebral Infarction; Combined Modality Therapy; Craniotomy; Encephalitis; Fatal Outcome; Female; Hemiplegia; Humans; Male; Seizures

Topics: Adult; Amphotericin B; Candidiasis; Hemiplegia; Humans; Immunocompromised Host; Infusions, Intravenous; Male; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory; Peritonitis; Recurrence

We describe a case of granulomatous encephalitis caused by Bipolaris (Drechslera) hawaiiensis in an immunocompetent patient. An 18-year-old man with a seven-month history of seizures and right leg weakness was found by computed tomographic scan to have a left frontoparietal enhancing lesion. Biopsy of the lesion revealed granulomatous inflammation and numerous septate hyphae. Culture of the biopsy specimen yielded a pure culture of B hawaiiensis in four days. Susceptibility studies revealed the organism to be sensitive to amphotericin B (minimal inhibitory concentration [MIC] equals 0.25 mg/L) and miconazole lactate (MIC equals 0.064 mg/L), but resistant to flucytosine (MIC greater than 100 mg/L). No synergy was demonstrated with amphotericin B and flucytosine in vitro. The patient was successfully treated with surgery and systemic and intrathecal amphotericin B therapy, and a negative culture was obtained from a repeated brain biopsy six weeks later.

Topics: Adolescent; Amphotericin B; Combined Modality Therapy; Encephalitis; Granuloma; Hemiplegia; Humans; Male; Miconazole; Mycoses; Seizures; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Topics: Adult; Amphotericin B; Bacteriological Techniques; Biopsy; Brain Abscess; Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins; Hemiplegia; Humans; Isoniazid; Joint Diseases; Lung Diseases; Male; Meningitis; Nocardia Infections; Polymyxins; Prednisone; Pseudomonas Infections; Sarcoidosis; Skin Diseases; Sporotrichosis; Tetracycline