International Journal of Health & Allied Sciences

CASE REPORT
Year
: 2020  |  Volume : 9  |  Issue : 3  |  Page : 287--289

Fungal rhinosinusitis by Geotrichum candidum


Kirtilaxmi K Benachinmardi1, S Sangeetha1, Shivaprakash M Rudramurthy2,  
1 Department of Microbiology, Rajarajeswari Medical College and Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
2 Department of Medical Microbiology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India

Correspondence Address:
Dr. Kirtilaxmi K Benachinmardi
Department of Microbiology, Rajarajeswari Medical College and Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka
India

Abstract

Rhinosinusitis is an inflammatory infection of the sinuses caused by infectious agents such as bacteria and fungus. Fungal rhino-sinusitis by Geotrichum candidum is rare. A 45-year-old woman presented with complaints of serous nasal discharge from the left nostril for 3 months associated with dental pain in both upper and lower jaws. The patient was recently diagnosed of diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Pus from nasal douching was sent for fungal culture and sensitivity. KOH preparation revealed occasional hyphae. Fungal culture grew white, cottony aerial mycelia. On microscopy, rectangular arthroconidia varying in length between 4 and 10 μm were seen. The isolate was confirmed as G. candidum based on internal transcribed spacer regions of fungal ribosomal DNA. She was started on oral itraconazole for 14 days. Repeated isolation of same etiological agent in culture and confirmation with molecular techniques is essential for accurate diagnosis and appropriate management of fungal infections.



How to cite this article:
Benachinmardi KK, Sangeetha S, Rudramurthy SM. Fungal rhinosinusitis by Geotrichum candidum.Int J Health Allied Sci 2020;9:287-289


How to cite this URL:
Benachinmardi KK, Sangeetha S, Rudramurthy SM. Fungal rhinosinusitis by Geotrichum candidum. Int J Health Allied Sci [serial online] 2020 [cited 2024 Mar 29 ];9:287-289
Available from: https://www.ijhas.in/text.asp?2020/9/3/287/290706


Full Text



 Introduction



Rhinosinusitis is an inflammatory infection of the sinuses caused by infectious agents such as bacteria and fungus. Fungal rhinosinusitis has been reported in literature and is divided into either invasive or noninvasive fungal sinusitis. Invasive sinusitis involves tissue in and around the sinuses of the brain and meninges. Noninvasive sinusitis is restricted only to the sinus mucosa. Different fungal agents causing fungal sinusitis infection include Aspergillus, Penicillium, and mucor.[1]

Geotrichum candidum is a ubiquitous organism present in water and environmental surfaces and is also a commensal of human gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and nostrils. G. candidum as a causative agent of rhinosinusitis is very rare and is always associated with immunocompromised conditions such as diabetes mellitus (DM), HIV, patients on chemotherapy/radiotherapy, and transplant patients on immunosuppressive drugs.[2]

Here, we report a case of fungal rhino-sinusitis by G. candidum in a newly diagnosed DM patient.

 Case Report



A 45-year-old young woman presented to our hospital with complaints of serous nasal discharge from the left nostril for the last 3 months associated with dental pain in both upper and lower jaws on the same side. The patient is a known case of DM and hypertension and was on regular medication along with insulin. The patient had a history of previous hospital admission 3 months ago for uncontrolled DM. The patient is moderately built and nourished. On examination, a left maxillary polyp was found. There was poor dental hygiene, and a small swelling was present on the left side of the hard palate. A provisional diagnosis of left maxillary sinusitis/polyp or invasive fungal infection or fungal rhinosinusitis was made. Nasal douching was done, and pus was sent for fungal culture and sensitivity. KOH preparation revealed occasional hyphae. Fungal culture on Sabouraud's dextrose agar at 25°C and 37°C grew white, moist, short cottony aerial mycelia. On microscopy, these colonies revealed rectangular arthroconidia varying in length between 4 and 10 μm, as shown in [Figure 1]. Few rectangular cells rounded at ends and characteristically germinate from one corner giving the appearance of a hockey stick were seen. Preliminary identification of Geotrichum was made and sent to Post Graduate Institute of Medical Research, Chandigarh – mycology reference center for confirmation. The isolate was confirmed as G. candidum based on internal transcribed spacer regions of fungal ribosomal DNA.{Figure 1}

In addition to other routine investigations, the patient underwent contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) of the paranasal sinuses. CECT showed enhanced tissue density lesion in the left maxillary sinus with involvement of the adjacent structure, giving an impression of fungal sinusitis or osteomyelitis of maxilla. She was started on oral itraconazole 100 mg once a day for 14 days. The patient also underwent functional endoscopic sinus surgery after 9 days of admission, and the biopsy material was sent for histopathology. Histopathology report was suggestive of inflammatory polyp of the left nasal cavity with involvement of the middle meatus. The patient underwent polypectomy and improved without any sequelae.

 Discussion



G. candidum is a yeast-like fungus with worldwide distribution. There are reports of it causing oral infections, fungemia in HIV, DM, chronic myeloid leukemia, and acute myeloid leukemia patients. Renal calculi and renal bezoar have been reported in literature as well.[3] It has been reported to cause geotrichosis – a local or disseminated disease. It can affect bronchi, lungs, mouth, and GIT.[4]G. candidum is a potential pathogen among immunocompromised patients, although rare in presentation and reporting. It is commonly either underreported or misreported/misdiagnosed as Candida or Trichosporon.[5] Hence, repeated sampling to isolate and culture the fungus from multiple samples will help making a final diagnosis.[3]

Geotrichum is a genus of yeast-like imperfect fungi of the family Endomycetaceae, belonging to the order Saccharomycetales. It is a saprophytic, ubiquitous fungus found in fruits, decaying vegetables, soil, dairy products, and also as normal flora on the human skin and GIT.[4]

In severe neutropenic patients, it can lead to disseminated infections such as septicemia, involving the heart, lungs, liver, spleen, kidneys, or lymphnodes. There also have been reports of it causing brain abscess and traumatic joint infections.[6],[7] It has also been found in association with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and herpes simplex in causing lung infections.[8],[9]G. candidum is usually sensitive to antifungal therapy. Amphotericin-B and itraconazole have been used for the successful treatment of their infections.[4] In this patient, oral itraconazole 100 mg given for 14 days cured the sinusitis.

Mycoses or fungal balls of sinuses were first reported in 1885 by Schubert.[10] Kecht found 98 cases of Aspergillus-associated sinusitis over a period of 90 years. The most prevalent genera were Aspergillus, Penicillium, Cladosporium, Fusarium, Acremonium, Candida, Alternaria, and Aureobasidium. Other rarely reported agents include Eurolium, Chaetomium, Geotrichum, Verticillium, and Rhizopus.[11] Mohammadi et al. reported 27 cases of fungal sinusitis; among them, two cases were of G. candidum.[12]

Fungi can be found in any sample of nose and sinuses if not collected under strict aseptic precautions. This finding in our study is not surprising as sino-nasal mucosa is a sticky surface, which on exposure to ambient air will invariably be covered with airborne fungal spores. However, in certain patients, this normal flora triggers inflammatory and immunological reactions resulting in chronic rhinosinusitis and polyposis – a theory currently under research.[10] This case is similar and supports this theory, after taking fungal culture and histopathology reports into consideration. Here, fungal culture grew Geotrichum, and histopathology report showed an inflammatory polyp. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of fungal sinusitis caused by G. candidum from India.

Invasive geotrichosis was first reported in 1971 by Meena et al.[13] The etiological agents of fungal sinusitis differ from the Indian subcontinent to Western countries, where dematiaceous fungi are common, whereas Aspergillus are commonly isolated from the Indian subcontinent. Housing conditions and environmental factors play major roles in the isolation pattern of fungi from the Indian subcontinent when compared to those of Western countries. Fungal sinusitis can be either noninvasive or invasive. Noninvasive fungal sinusitis can present either as allergic fungal sinusitis with recurrent nasal polyposis as seen in our case or as a fungal ball in the sinus. Invasive fungal sinusitis invades the orbit and the central nervous system with a high mortality rate.[14]

Henrich et al. reported a series of 12 cases with G. candidum infections from 1971 through 2007 from transplant patients. The various samples tested were blood, sputum, central venous catheter tip, terminal ileum, skin, heart, lung, liver, spleen, kidney, lymph node, bone marrow, esophageal ulcer, oral epithelium, urine, synovial fluid, and skin and soft tissues.[15]

Among the various Geotrichum species, Geotrichum candidum is the most common infectious agent. Other species are Geotrichum clavatum, Geotrichum fici, and Geotrichum silvicola. Direct microscopic demonstration of pathogen in clinical specimen and its repeated isolation in pure and luxuriant growth remains the gold standard in the diagnosis of geotrichosis.[16]

 Conclusion



Computed tomography scan, endoscopy, and histopathological investigations are nonspecific in the diagnosis of allergic fungal sinusitis and fungal ball. Hence, repeated isolation of same etiological agent on culture media and confirmation with molecular techniques is essential for accurate diagnosis and appropriate management of these fungal infections.

Declaration of patient consent

The authors certify that they have obtained all appropriate patient consent forms. In the form the patient(s) has/have given his/her/their consent for his/her/their images and other clinical information to be reported in the journal. The patients understand that their names and initials will not be published and due efforts will be made to conceal their identity, but anonymity cannot be guaranteed.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

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