Alternaria alternata infection associated osteomyelitis of maxilla: A rare disease entity

Abstract

Alternaria alternata is one of the rarest fungi associated with paranasal sinusitis. Alternaria species are pigmented (also known as dematiaceous or phaeoid) filamentous fungi, which are well-known soil saprophytes and plant pathogens that infrequently cause infection in humans mainly, cutaneous lesions. We present a case of osteomyelitis of maxilla caused by a rare fungus- A. alternata in a diabetic patient with poor glycemic control who was successfully treated with antifungal and surgical debridement over the period of 6 months.

Keywords

• Alternaria alternata
• diabetes mellitus
• maxilla
• osteomyelitis
• paranasal sinusitis