First reported case of subcutaneous hyalohyphomycosis caused by Paecilomyces variotii. (17th May 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vasudevan, Biju; Hazra, Nandita; Verma, Rajesh; Srinivas, Vadlamannati; Vijendran, Pragasam; Badad, Ambresh
• Is Part Of: International journal of dermatology. Volume 52:Number 6(2013:Jun.)
• Page Start: 711
• Page End: 713
• Publication Date: 2013-05-17
• Subjects: Dermatology -- Periodicals; 616.5
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-4632.2012.05761.x
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0011-9059

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en" id="ijd5761-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="ijd5761-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>Hyalohyphomycosis is a rare opportunistic fungal infection caused by saprophytes of genera such as <italic>Fusarium</italic>, <italic> Paecilomyces</italic>, <italic> Scedosporium</italic>, <italic> Penicillium</italic>, <italic> Scopulariopsis Acremonium</italic>, and similar fungi. The literature includes only one previous report of <italic>Paecilomyces variotii</italic> human infection and very few reports of subcutaneous mycosis caused by any of the hyalohyphomycosis group of fungi.</p> </sec> <sec id="ijd5761-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>We report an instance of fungal infection in a 50‐year‐old woman, known to have diabetes, who presented with multiple raised lesions on the upper back of two years' duration. Dermatological examination revealed a 20 × 22‐cm, swollen, indurated area on the upper back with multiple violaceous, exophytic nodules on the surface.</p> </sec> <sec id="ijd5761-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Microscopy from pus and tissue smear revealed septate branching fungi. Periodic acid Schiff (PAS) stain was positive for fungal elements. Culture on three occasions yielded <italic>P. variotii</italic>. Slide culture mounts showed septate hyaline hyphae of <italic>P. variotii</italic> with elongated phialides demonstrating bulbous bases and tapering apices attached to the conidiophores. The patient was treated with itraconazole, to which she responded well.</p> </sec> <sec id="ijd5761-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>This is the first reported case of subcutaneous hyalohyphomycosis caused by <italic>P. variotii</italic>. It appears that this relatively rare fungal pathogen may be starting to assert itself as an important cause of infection in humans.</p> </sec> </abstract>