Open AccessCase Report
Cutaneous Alternariosis Caused by Alternaria infectoria: A Case Report in Kidney Transplant Recipient and Literature Review
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Maria Antonietta Grignano, Marilena Gregorini, Tefik Islami, Maria Carmela Esposto, Camilla Vassallo, Angela Di Matteo, Elena Seminari, Palma Minutillo, Eleonora Francesca Pattonieri, Emma Diletta Stea, Giuseppe Lanotte, Valentina Portalupi, Andreana De Mauri, Elisabetta Margiotta, Alessandro Tragni, Grazia Soccio, Caterina Cavanna and Teresa Rampino
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Abstract
Cutaneous infections caused by dematiaceous fungi are rare in the general population but are increasingly recognized in solid organ transplant recipients as a consequence of prolonged immunosuppression. When Alternaria species are confirmed as the causative agents of a skin infection, the condition is
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Cutaneous infections caused by dematiaceous fungi are rare in the general population but are increasingly recognized in solid organ transplant recipients as a consequence of prolonged immunosuppression. When Alternaria species are confirmed as the causative agents of a skin infection, the condition is referred to as alternariosis. These infections may clinically resemble bacterial or neoplastic lesions and require accurate diagnosis and individualized therapy. We report one case of cutaneous alternariosis in a kidney transplant recipient receiving tacrolimus-based immunosuppression. The patient was a 47-year-old woman who sustained minor trauma to her knee three months after transplantation. She developed an ulcerated, crusted lesion, which coincided with severe neutropenia. Histology, culture and molecular identification confirmed
A. infectoria. Treatment included systemic azole therapy (voriconazole followed by isavuconazole) and surgical excision, resulting in resolution without recurrence. This case highlights the importance of early recognition of alternariosis in transplant recipients. Successful management typically requires combined surgical and systemic antifungal therapy, with careful monitoring of drug interactions and immunosuppressive levels to prevent toxicity or rejection.
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