Granuloma Annulare-like Skin Lesion due to Fusarium roseum: Therapy With Ketoconazole

To the Editor.—  Species of Fusarium are important plant pathogens and common soil fungi and are usually considered opportunistic fungi in humans. Infection of the skin, nails, and cornea^1,2 have been reported, but deep invasion or disseminated infection^3,4 are rare. Most Fusarium species isolated from burn patients are Fusarium monilis⁵ or Fusarium oxysporum.⁶ Similar species of Fusarium are also found in a few cases in which this fungal infection induces granuloma formation of skin.⁷ In our case, Fusarium roseum⁸ is thought to be the primary pathogen that caused the formation of an annular, granulomatous skin lesion.

Report of a Case.—  A 65-year-old farmer in Taiwan was first seen in March 1985 for a progressively enlarging skin lesion. In October 1984, he suffered a traumatic injury that caused a minor abrasion wound on his left forearm. The patient applied herbal medications topically. The wound did