Invasive Fusariosis: Unusual Cases over 10 Years in a Tertiary Care Hospital and a Review of the Literature from Saudi Arabia

<b>Background/Objectives:</b><i>Fusarium</i> species are recognized as difficult-to-treat opportunistic pathogens due to extensive antifungal resistance and high mortality rates. Variability in its incidence and outcomes exists across different countries and centers. Large studies on <i>Fusarium</i> species are lacking in Saudi Arabia, with most previous publications being case reports. We describe all cases of invasive fusariosis identified at a tertiary center during a 10-year period and review previous reports in the country. <b>Methods:</b> A retrospective search of hospital records and the microbiology database was conducted to identify cases of invasive fusariosis among patients admitted during 2016-2025 at King Abdulaziz Medical City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. <b>Results:</b> Three cases of invasive fusariosis occurring over a 10-year period were identified. All cases occurred in the last three years of the study period. The incidence during those three years was 0.4 cases per 10,000 admissions per year. Clinical manifestations were fungemia in two immunocompetent patients and ulcers progressing to osteomyelitis in an immunocompromised patient. None of the patients progressed to death within 30 days of diagnosis. <b>Conclusions:</b> Data on <i>Fusarium</i> species are scarce in Saudi Arabia. Additional studies are required to better understand differences in invasive fusariosis between countries.

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Publication Details

Journal
Infectious Disease Reports
Published
2026-01-26
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/idr18010014
Primary Topic
Antifungal resistance and susceptibility
Type
article
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article

Invasive Fusariosis: Unusual Cases over 10 Years in a Tertiary Care Hospital and a Review of the Literature from Saudi Arabia

Hassan Huwait, Murad Essatari, A. R. T. Sarhan, Hassan Almarhabi
Infectious Disease Reports
Antifungal resistance and susceptibility
article

Invasive Fusariosis: Unusual Cases over 10 Years in a Tertiary Care Hospital and a Review of the Literature from Saudi Arabia

Hassan Huwait, Murad Essatari, A. R. T. Sarhan, Hassan Almarhabi
article en

Abstract

<b>Background/Objectives:</b><i>Fusarium</i> species are recognized as difficult-to-treat opportunistic pathogens due to extensive antifungal resistance and high mortality rates. Variability in its incidence and outcomes exists across different countries and centers. Large studies on <i>Fusarium</i> species are lacking in Saudi Arabia, with most previous publications being case reports. We describe all cases of invasive fusariosis identified at a tertiary center during a 10-year period and review previous reports in the country. <b>Methods:</b> A retrospective search of hospital records and the microbiology database was conducted to identify cases of invasive fusariosis among patients admitted during 2016-2025 at King Abdulaziz Medical City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. <b>Results:</b> Three cases of invasive fusariosis occurring over a 10-year period were identified. All cases occurred in the last three years of the study period. The incidence during those three years was 0.4 cases per 10,000 admissions per year. Clinical manifestations were fungemia in two immunocompetent patients and ulcers progressing to osteomyelitis in an immunocompromised patient. None of the patients progressed to death within 30 days of diagnosis. <b>Conclusions:</b> Data on <i>Fusarium</i> species are scarce in Saudi Arabia. Additional studies are required to better understand differences in invasive fusariosis between countries.

Infectious Disease ReportsVol. 18(1)
King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (SA), King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (SA), National Guard Health Affairs (SA)
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 75%
Antifungal resistance and susceptibility
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Invasive Fusariosis: Unusual Cases over 10 Years in a Tertiary Care Hospital and a Review of the Literature from Saudi Arabia — Hassan Huwait, Murad Essatari, et al. · Infectious Disease Reports (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS