Review of 21 cases of mycetoma from 1991 to 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2017 Feb 13;11(2):e0005301. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005301. eCollection 2017 Feb.

Abstract

Mycetoma is caused by the subcutaneous inoculation of filamentous fungi or aerobic filamentous bacteria that form grains in the tissue. The purpose of this study is to describe the epidemiologic, clinic, laboratory, and therapeutic characteristics of patients with mycetoma at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, between 1991 and 2014. Twenty-one cases of mycetoma were included in the study. There was a predominance of male patients (1.3:1) and the average patient age was 46 years. The majority of the cases were from the Southeast region of Brazil and the feet were the most affected anatomical region (80.95%). Eumycetoma prevailed over actinomycetoma (61.9% and 38.1% respectively). Eumycetoma patients had positive cultures in 8 of 13 cases, with isolation of Scedosporium apiospermum species complex (n = 3), Madurella mycetomatis (n = 2) and Acremonium spp. (n = 1). Two cases presented sterile mycelium and five were negative. Six of 8 actinomycetoma cases had cultures that were identified as Nocardia spp. (n = 3), Nocardia brasiliensis (n = 2), and Nocardia asteroides (n = 1). Imaging tests were performed on all but one patients, and bone destruction was identified in 9 cases (42.68%). All eumycetoma cases were treated with itraconazole monotherapy or combined with fluconazole, terbinafine, or amphotericin B. Actinomycetoma cases were treated with sulfamethoxazole plus trimethoprim or combined with cycles of amikacin sulphate. Surgical procedures were performed in 9 (69.2%) eumycetoma and in 3 (37.5%) actinomycetoma cases, with one amputation case in each group. Clinical cure occurred in 11 cases (7 for eumycetoma and 4 for actinomycetoma), and recurrence was documented in 4 of 21 cases. No deaths were recorded during the study. Despite of the scarcity of mycetoma in our institution the cases presented reflect the wide clinical spectrum and difficulties to take care of this neglected disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Debridement
  • Female
  • Fungi / classification
  • Fungi / isolation & purification*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mycetoma / epidemiology*
  • Mycetoma / microbiology
  • Mycetoma / pathology*
  • Mycetoma / therapy
  • Nocardia / isolation & purification*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antifungal Agents

Grants and funding

We are thankful for the support of Grant—Apoio Emergencial BBP/PPG FAPERJ, processo E-26/203.563/2015. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.