Additional case of<i>Ramichloridium mackenziei</i>cerebral phaeohyphomycosis from the Middle East

Abstract

In this report we describe a case of cerebral phaeohyphomycosis involving a 56-year-old Egyptian male who worked as a mason in Kuwait for 6 years. Computerized tomography scan of the brain revealed presence of a large abscess in the left occipital lobe. Aspirated pus from the abscess showed branched, septate, hyphae with light brown pigmentation. Cultured pus grew the fungus Ramichloridium mackenziei. Despite amphotericin B (1 mg kg(-1) per day) therapy for 2 weeks, the patient expired. The isolate was later found to be resistant to amphotericin B ( > 32 microg ml(-1)). Antifungal susceptibility testing to other agents was also performed.