ABSTRACT
Phaeohyphomycosis is a fungal infection common in immunocompromised patients such as those with hematologic malignancies, transplant recipients or under prolonged corticosteroid use. Here we describe a rare case of phaeohyphomycosis due to Biatriospora mackinnonii in a kidney transplant patient. We confirmed B. mackinnonii identity by sequencing of the internal transcribed spaces (ITS) region of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and achieved a satisfactory therapeutic response with itraconazole administration.
ABSTRACT
Pityriasis versicolor is a superficial fungal infection caused by Malassezia spp. The aim of this study is to propose the definition of a new clinical entity: the recurrent and disseminated pityriasis versicolor (RDPV). All patients with RDPV were enrolled over an eight-month period. Clinical and epidemiological data were obtained, Malassezia (M.) species were isolated in cultures and identified by phenotypic and molecular characterization, skin biopsies were taken from active lesions, serum levels of immunoglobulin E were obtained and therapeutic schemes were evaluated. A total of 16 patients were included (11 male, 5 female). The most frequently isolated species were M. japonica (nâ¯=â¯3) and M. furfur (nâ¯=â¯3). This is the first study that isolates M. japonica in patients with pityriasis versicolor; interestingly, those were recalcitrant patients. Seven patients (43.8%) had no cure with any of the proposed treatments; among those, 5 (71.4%) had increased serum IgE levels. The most effective treatment was itraconazole 200â¯mg daily for 28â¯days. The RDPV has very different features from the classic form, including a poor response to treatment, and the isolation of different Malassezia species; therefore, we propose a hypothesis for the definition of a new clinical condition (RDPV), which could be a result of the interaction Malassezia-host.
