Exserohilum rostratum has been associated with the recent outbreak of fungal meningitis and joint infections linked to parenteral steroid use. CDC and FDA have both confirmed the presence of this organism in unopened vials of preservative-free methylprednisolone acetate from one of the three implicated lots administered to approximately 14,000 patients.

Exserohilum rostratum, anamorph (Setosphaeria rostrata, teleomorph), is typically isolated from plant materials and rarely causes infection in healthy human adults. ATCC currently houses 15 strains of this fungus for use in studies related to infectivity, islands of pathogenicity, or methods of detection:

*Type strain of Setosphaeria rostrata, teleomorph