Fusariosis

Fusariosis General Information

Fusariosis is a rare infection caused by a common fungus (fusarium), found in soil and in association with several plants. The most common hosts of these funguses are the rye, wheat, grasses, barley, oats, etc. This fungus belongs to a large genus of filamentous fungi and has a widely distribution; it is associated with many human medical conditions. People used to call it the fungus that has a destructive effect on crops. Most species from this genus are relatively just some harmless saprobes. But some of the species can produce some toxins, called mycotoxins (if they come in contact with the food and enter in the food chain, they affect the human and animal organism in a severe way). These mycotoxins are found in cereal crops. The most common main toxins produced by fusarium fungus are trichothecenes and fumonisins. Fusariosis is a very rare infection that has devastating effects when it gets into the human body. More prone to develop this type of infectious disease – Fusariosis are the immuno-compromised individuals. Such patients are known to have a damaged immune system (this means that their organism is no longer able to produce sufficient antibodies that are supposed to usually fight against all types of medical conditions). They are at high risk of getting any type of infection because these microorganisms live in everything that surrounds us, for example, in the organic waste, air or soil. Other information that we can provide you with about these fungi is that they have the ability to replicate at only 33oC. These species of fungi are spread mostly in the Southern United States of America and in various locations from Florida.

Fusariosis Symptoms

The fungi that lead to the condition known as Fusariosis cause different diseases not only in humans, but also in the plants that they attack. For example it can determine thinning of the plant stand or the death of the seedling; the disease is called seedling blight. When it enters in the human body, the fusarium species lead to a range of signs and symptoms. The most common of them is the so called ear blights. These harmful agents can cause systemic or superficial infections in humans. This disorder is considered destructive because the affected persons usually develop coetaneous infections caused by the fusarium strains. The infection with this fungus can make the ear, or only a part of it to become bleached. The most sensitive to getting infected with this fungus are the people who present a compromised immune system. Their lack of antibodies makes them potential victims for many other more infections. Because the fungus that causes Fusariosis lives in the air, soil and organic wastes, the risk of becoming a host for this microorganism is significantly high. More prone to develop it are the transplant patients and the neutropenic ones. The infections that follow a solid organ transplant have a better outcome and have the tendency to remain local in comparison with the infections in persons who have blood disorders, different malignancies or had a transplant of bone marrow. The most common signs and symptoms are: pain felt in the abdominal area, vomiting, prostration, bloody diarrhea, chills, fever or bleeding in the skin.

Fusariosis Treatment

This medical condition caused by the fusarium fungus – Fusariosis can be difficult to treat and the effects of the disorder are often fatal for the patient because of its invasive form. A health care provider must be very careful during the medical exam because this type of infection is not easy to diagnose and if the right treatment is not applied in time, it can have serious complications. To detect the presence of this microorganism in the human body, the specialists need to order a series of tests including urine analysis, blood exams, physical exams, etc. Once the fungus responsible for triggering Fusariosis is detected, the health care provider can proceed with the appropriate therapy after the patient is hospitalized. The drugs used to treat this infection are numerous and are called antifungal drugs, but Amphotericin B is usually preferred by many doctors. Amphotericin B is prescribed alone or it can be given in combination with Rifampin or flucytosine. Some secondary formulations of Amphotericin B can also be used, for example Amphotericin B lipid complex or liposomal Amphotericin B. Unfortunately, many patients do not respond to this therapy because their organism remains resistant to this treatment. If this method fails, the immune compromised individuals often receive transfusions with GM-CSF and granulocytes, but only concomitant with the antifungal drugs, mainly with Amphotericin B. In their case, this procedure can save their life if the form of Fusariosis is systemic. This antifungal medicine must be taken as doctors prescribed for you.

You should avoid taking it in larger amounts that you were advised to and for a longer period of time than your health care provider recommended you. Following the prescription with precision, your symptoms and signs may get better before the fungal infection is completely cured, making the rest of your therapy period easier to tolerate. Often outbreaks of this medical condition (Fusariosis) were recently reported. The disseminated form of the disorder usually results in persons with a compromised immune system (who had an important organ transplant, blood disorders, etc) because of the hospital water supply systems. The fungus that causes Fusariosis can also be found in the soil of potted plants from the hospitals, minimizing the efficiency of any treatment because they represent a hazardous reservoir of mycotic microorganisms. Scientists have discovered another medicine that may give results in treating this fungal infection: Posaconazole. This drug is still tested, despite the fact that it has a limited in vitro activity. Although many doctors consider this an important medical finding, the data is still verified. If the fungus species causes keratitis, then the preferred therapy is the one that contains topical natamycin. Besides the therapies with antifungal drugs, some patients need keratoplasty. In the case that the infection with the fusarium leads to mycetyoma, then the best treatment applied consists in the administration of Itraconazole. If onychomycosis appears, Itraconazole must be applied in combination with Cicolpirox nail lacquer. Some other studies try to eliminate or at least to reduce the mycotoxins that released by the fusarium species from food commodities or contaminated agricultural regions.