Related Experiment Videos

Cutaneous zygomycosis associated with urate panniculitis

Stephen E Vernon1, Sandeep P Dave

  • 1Department of Pathology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA. svernon@med.miami.edu

The American Journal of Dermatopathology
|July 28, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Cutaneous zygomycosis, a severe fungal infection, was identified in a neonatal organ transplant patient. The case highlights "urate panniculitis," a novel finding of uric acid crystals in skin inflammation, crucial for early diagnosis and treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Mycology
  • Transplant Infectious Diseases
  • Dermatopathology

Background:

  • Cutaneous zygomycosis is a life-threatening fungal infection in immunocompromised individuals.
  • Diagnosis is challenging due to difficulties in culturing organisms from clinical samples.

Observation:

  • A neonatal multi-visceral organ transplant patient presented with cutaneous zygomycosis.
  • Subcutaneous panniculitis was observed, characterized by extensive local deposition of acicular uric acid crystals.

Findings:

  • The crystals were identified as monosodium urate using various analytical methods.
  • Microwave-based tissue processing preserved crystal integrity, aiding identification.
  • Transient hyperuricemia was suspected but not definitively confirmed.

Implications:

  • The study introduces the term "urate panniculitis" to describe this specific clinicopathological finding.
  • Early diagnosis and prompt treatment (antifungal therapy, debridement) led to a successful outcome.
  • This case underscores the importance of recognizing rare presentations of zygomycosis in transplant recipients.

Related Concept Videos

Fungal Group Zygomycota01:29

Fungal Group Zygomycota

Zygomycota, previously classified as a distinct fungal group, are primarily terrestrial, saprophytic molds that play a crucial role as decomposers. Recent phylogenetic studies have revealed that these fungi are now divided into two major clades — Mucoromycota, which includes many symbiotic species, and Zoopagomycota, which primarily consists of parasitic and pathogenic fungi. These groups exhibit distinct ecological roles and reproductive strategies while sharing key structural and...
Skin Diseases and Disorders01:23

Skin Diseases and Disorders

Skin is the first line of defense and encounters a variety of microbes. Some pathogenic strains are often the cause of a broad range of infections of the skin and other body systems. These conditions can affect people of all ages and may have different causes, including genetic factors, infections, autoimmune reactions, environmental factors, and lifestyle choices.
Gram-positive Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. are responsible for many of the most common skin infections. However, many...
Cryptococcal Meningitis01:27

Cryptococcal Meningitis

Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening opportunistic infection predominantly associated with HIV/AIDS, accounting for over 100,000 deaths annually worldwide. However, it also affects individuals with other forms of immunosuppression, including those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, organ transplant recipients, patients with innate immunodeficiencies, and individuals with hematological disorders. The infection is caused mainly by Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii,...
Candidiasis01:20

Candidiasis

Candidiasis is a fungal infection caused by opportunistic species of Candida. It can affect various anatomical sites, including the skin, oral cavity, nails, and genitourinary tract. Among its forms, vaginal candidiasis is the most common type of mucosal infection. It typically results from the overgrowth of Candida albicans in the vaginal mucosa. Under normal conditions, C. albicans exists as a commensal organism within the vaginal microbiota, regulated by the dominance of lactobacilli, which...
Staphylococcal Skin Infections01:29

Staphylococcal Skin Infections

Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive coccus that resides harmlessly on the skin and mucous membranes of healthy individuals. When the skin barrier is breached, it can shift from a commensal to an opportunistic pathogen. This transition is facilitated by surface adhesins, such as clumping factor B and S. aureus surface protein G (SasG), which bind to structural proteins, including loricrin and cytokeratin, in the damaged epidermis. Protein A, another key factor, binds the Fc region of...
Atypical Pneumonia01:14

Atypical Pneumonia

Atypical pneumonia, often caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, is a form of pulmonary infection that differs from the classical presentation of bacterial pneumonia in both its cause and clinical symptoms. Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a pleomorphic bacterium notable for its lack of a rigid cell wall. This structural characteristic imparts resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and significantly influences the bacterium’s behavior within the human host.Other pathogens responsible for the disease include...