Lethal disseminated Fusarium infection with sinus involvement in the immunocompromised host: case report and review of the literature.

A case of disseminated invasive fusarial infection (DFI) with sinus involvement in a patient with acute myeloblastic leukaemia is reported. Amphotericin B with rifampin were administrated and wide radical sinus surgery was performed. Nevertheless, the patient died six weeks later. The four principal forms of fusarial infections in humans are discussed: toxicosis, allergic fungal sinusitis, locally invasive infection, and disseminated invasive infection. Prognosis of DFI in the immunocompromised host is usually poor, and treatment is difficult. Profound and prolonged neutropaenia appears to be the major predisposing factor. The literature on infections caused by Fusarium species in immunocompromised hosts is reviewed, especially those where the sinuses were involved.