Diffuse primary cutaneous infection by Alternaria alternata in a liver transplant recipient with pulmonary nocardiosis: Importance of prompt identification for clinical resolution

Abstract

Fungal infections are rare in the general population but are an emerging cause of disease in immunosuppressed patients, especially solid organ transplant recipients. Here, we report the case of a female Caucasian liver transplant patient who developed pulmonary nocardiosis two months after an episode of liver rejection. At the time of lung nocardiosis, she was being treated with tacrolimus and corticosteroids and suffered from diffuse papular skin lesions. She was initially suspected of having a cutaneous nocardial infection but culture examination revealed the presence of a dematiaceous fungus; Alternaria alternata. The prompt identification of the fungus and administration of oral Voriconazole resolved the skin infection with complete remission.

Keywords: Alternaria alternata; Immunocompromised host; Liver transplantation; Nocardiosis; Phaeohyphomycosis.