A rare cause of osteomyelitis of distal phalanx: Candida lusitaniae

Abstract

Osteomyelitis of the phalanx caused by Candida species arerare. A 49-year-old female patient was admitted to an externalcenter with a splinter injury of the third phalanx of the middlefinger of her left hand about 45 days ago. She was referred toour clinic with persistent pain and discharge, despite four-weekantibiotherapy. Debridement and curettage were performed andpartial excision of the distal phalanx at an appropriate levelwas done. Her complaints gradually resolved postoperativelywith prescribed antibiotics for the pathogen identified asCandida lusitaniae based on the intraoperative cultures. At herthree-month follow-up visit, treatment yielded near-excellentresults. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case ofosteomyelitis of the distal phalanx caused by Candida lusitaniaein the literature, highlighting the importance of definitivediagnosis and pathogen-specific treatment, rather than empiricaltreatment, to achieve favorable results with cure.