Fusarium proliferatum

Fusarium infection in humans is rare. In healthy hosts, most infections occur following receipt of a traumatic soft-tissue inoculation. In immunocompromised patients, inhalation or inoculation due to a minor trauma can lead to disseminated Fusarium infection. Fusarium species are common causes of keratitis. They are also common causes of onychomycosis, endophthalmitis, and skin and musculoskeletal infections.

The disseminated form of infection most commonly occurs in patients with acute leukemia and prolonged neutropenia.

Because an invasive Fusarium infection may mimic aspergillosis, patients are usually treated with amphotericin B, an antifungal agent with poor activity against fusariosis.

Hence, early identification is an important factor for a successful outcome. Furthermore, diagnosis requires the demonstration of hyphae in pathological samples; however, hyphae of Aspergillus, Scedosporium, and Fusarium are difficult to discriminate. 

Members of the genus Fusarium are ubiquitous fungi commonly found in soils and plants.

Fusarium proliferatum can be found on a wide host range as well as pathogenic on various agricultural crops. Fusarium proliferatum is a common pathogen infecting numerous crop plants and occuring in various climatic zones.