Black Mould Keratitis (Fusarium spp.)

fusarium disease-eye

Fusarium caused infection of the cornea (transparent front part of an eye) that can infect the eyeball and causes abscesses (pus) to form on it. Fusarium invasions one of the most frequent causes this type of eye inflammation. The main predisposing factor is damage to eye due to the implantation of a contaminated material. Thanks to its ability to easily adhere to plastic surfaces keratitis of contact lenses is a common occurrence.

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However, the most frequently noted predisposing factor for keratitis has been improper lens care, which has led to contamination of contact lens paraphernalia. Contamination of the lens can also occur in windy conditions. Fusarium can penetrate contact lenses' matrix and establish itself n the material. Black mould fusarium can less frequently develop among the users of contact lenses but advances in material science are quickly eliminating this source of Fusarium disease.

Hyalohyphomycosis (Fusarium spp.)

fusarium disease-skin

Hyalohyphomycosis is an infection of the skin that can result in an extreme rash or penetrate the dermis and cause infection or internal bleeding. The disease can manifest itself as either metastatic or primary. Among healthy individuals (immunocompetent), skin lesions are usually localised and develop after damage to skin at the site of infection. Infection represents themselves most commonly as necrotic lesions, cellulitis after onychomycosis, or chronic ulcers and abscesses.

In weakened individuals (immunocompromised) suffer mostly from disseminated (scattered) skin lesions. The most common lesions in these patients are multiple painful erythematous papules or nodules with necrosis?, frequently associated with cultures of blood and skin positive for Fusarium black mould. Most likely invasion route is damage to skin which  allows the entry of these pathogenic fungi into the underlying soft tissues. Once the tissues are invaded, cellulitis develops and subsequently the infection is disseminated across the body.

Onychomycosis (Fusarium spp.)

fusarium disease- nail

Onychomycosis is a mould infection of fingernails and toenails which affects manly older males. Nails attacked by fusarium black mould infection to thicken, discolour, disfigure, and split.  Nails can become quite thick which causes them to press against footwear resulting in irritation and pain. Most at risk from Fusarium mould disease are people suffering from diabetes, suppressed immune system and increased age.