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Cutaneous infections due to opportunistic molds: uncommon presentations

Irina Vennewald1, Uwe Wollina

  • 1Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Academic Teaching Hospital Dresden-Friedrichstadt, Dresden, Germany. vennewald-ir@khdf.de

Clinics in Dermatology
|December 6, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Common molds can cause serious skin and ear infections, often overlooked by medical professionals. This review highlights their role in mycoses, focusing on diagnosis and treatment in various patient groups.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Mycology
  • Dermatology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Molds are frequently underestimated as human pathogens by the medical community.
  • Opportunistic mold infections, including alternariosis, fusariosis, and aspergillosis, pose significant health risks.
  • Mold infections can present insidiously, complicating early diagnosis and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To emphasize the crucial role of common molds as etiological agents in cutaneous and auricular mycoses.
  • To provide a comprehensive overview of mold-induced skin infections, covering clinical presentation, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management.
  • To review the literature concerning mold infections in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent individuals.

Main Methods:

  • Review of clinical literature on mold-induced skin and ear infections.
  • Discussion of diagnostic approaches, including direct mycologic preparation with optical brighteners and skin biopsy histopathology.
  • Analysis of etiological factors, pathogenesis, and clinical manifestations.

Main Results:

  • The clinical spectrum of cutaneous mold infections ranges from eczematous to chronic verrucous lesions and acute dermal infiltrates.
  • Weakened host defense mechanisms are identified as a primary trigger for these infections.
  • Specific molds like *Aspergillus*, *Alternaria*, and *Fusarium* are highlighted as important pathogens.

Conclusions:

  • Common molds are significant, though often unrecognized, causes of skin and ear infections.
  • Prompt and accurate diagnosis, utilizing mycologic and histologic methods, is essential for effective treatment.
  • Understanding the role of host immunity is critical in managing mold-related mycoses.

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