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Deep cutaneous fungal infection in an immunocompetent individual caused by a biological pesticide: a rare case report

Summary

A 66-year-old farmer developed a deep skin fungal infection from a biological pesticide she used for over 10 years. The pesticide contained a fungus called Purpureocillium lilacinum, which is normally harmless to healthy people but caused repeated skin lesions on her face and arms. She was successfully treated with antifungal medication (itraconazole) for three months, and her skin fully healed without returning. This is the first reported case showing that biological pesticides can pose health risks to workers who handle them regularly.

Background

Purpureocillium lilacinum is a globally distributed fungus commonly used as a biological pesticide for pest control. While it typically causes severe infections only in immunocompromised individuals, this report describes a rare case of deep fungal infection in a healthy person exposed to a biopesticide containing this fungus.

Objective

To report the first known case of deep cutaneous fungal infection associated with exposure to a biological pesticide containing Purpureocillium lilacinum in an immunocompetent individual and discuss the potential risks of biopesticide use.

Results

A 66-year-old farmer presented with recurrent erythematous lesions on face and arms over 10 years. Fungal identification confirmed Purpureocillium lilacinum infection. Complete healing of skin lesions occurred after three months of itraconazole treatment with no recurrence.

Conclusion

This is the first reported case of deep skin fungal infection linked to biopesticide exposure, highlighting the potential health risks of these products and the importance of implementing proper safety precautions and monitoring among users.
  • Published in:BMC Infectious Diseases,
  • Study Type:Case Report,
  • Source: PMID: 40069617, DOI: 10.1186/s12879-025-10707-x
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