Phaeohyphomycosis caused by Neoscytalidiumdimidiatum in a COVID-19 patient

Abstract

BackgroundNeoscytalidiumdimidiatum is an opportunistic dematiaceous fungus belonging to the class Dothideomycetes. Case reportWe report a case of N. dimidiatum cerebral phaeohyphomycosis post COVID-19 infection in a 32-year-old male from Iran. The causative agent was identified by cytopathology, routine mycological methods, and DNA sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA. Apart from COVID-19 complications and the corticosteroid therapy, no underlying condition was diagnosed. The symptoms suggesting the fungal infection were shown two weeks after being discharged from COVID-19 hospital stay. Magnetic resonance of the brain showed a multi-focal central nervous system infection. The delayed identification of the fungus and, thus, a late starting of the antifungal treatment with amphotericin B, might have affected the patient outcome as he finally died. ConclusionsConsidering the rare incidence of N. dimidiatum infections, this case should aware us about them, leading to a timely antifungal management.