Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 14, 2026
10:57
Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) Protocols for Problematic Plant, Oomycete, and Fungal Samples
Published on: February 3, 2017
Scedosporium apiospermum otomycosis
Brian J Baumgartner1, Robert M Rakita, Douglas D Backous
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, WA 98431, USA. brianis@doctor.com
American Journal of Otolaryngology
|July 4, 2007
Summary
A rare fungal infection, Scedosporium apiospermum otomycosis, affected an immunocompetent woman with lifelong ear issues. The fungus was found in a post-surgery wound, treated with debridement, wound care, and antifungals.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Chronic otitis media and otomastoiditis can present with recurrent symptoms.
- Fungal infections of the ear (otomycosis) are uncommon, especially in immunocompetent individuals.
- Scedosporium apiospermum is a filamentous fungus known to cause opportunistic infections.
Observation:
- A 62-year-old immunocompetent woman presented with a lifelong history of chronic otomastoiditis and otorrhea.
- Scedosporium apiospermum was unexpectedly identified in a wound infection following a modified radical mastoidectomy.
- The initial inoculation was presumed to have occurred in childhood in Vietnam.
Findings:
- The case highlights a rare instance of Scedosporium apiospermum otomycosis in an immunocompetent host.
- The chronic otomastoiditis and otorrhea were likely manifestations of a long-standing, undiagnosed fungal infection.
- Successful management involved surgical debridement, topical wound care, and prolonged systemic antifungal therapy.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of considering fungal etiologies in chronic, treatment-refractory ear infections.
- Early identification and appropriate management of Scedosporium apiospermum are crucial to prevent complications.
- Further research into the epidemiology and pathogenesis of Scedosporium apiospermum in otologic infections is warranted.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Skin 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...
Gram-positive Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. are responsible for many of the most common skin infections. However, many...
01:28Fungal Phylum Ascomycota
Phylum Ascomycota, a major division within the subkingdom Dikarya, comprises a diverse range of fungal species, including both unicellular yeasts and filamentous molds such as Aspergillus and Penicillium. These fungi thrive in a variety of habitats, from aquatic ecosystems to terrestrial environments, playing crucial ecological and economic roles.Morphology and ReproductionThe defining characteristic of Ascomycetes, commonly referred to as sac fungi, is the ascus—a sac-like structure that...
01:29Staphylococcal 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...
01:28Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis, a zoonotic disease caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, poses significant public health challenges globally due to its high seroprevalence and varied clinical manifestations. As an obligate intracellular parasite, T. gondii can infect all warm-blooded vertebrates, but felids are its only definitive hosts, shedding unsporulated oocysts into the environment. Humans typically acquire the infection through ingestion of tissue cysts in undercooked meat or oocysts from...
01:28Fungal Phylum Microsporidia
Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular fungi that were initially classified as protists but were later reclassified based on phylogenetic, molecular, and structural evidence linking them to the Chytridiomycota. These unicellular, non-motile organisms are highly specialized parasites that infect a wide range of animal hosts, including humans. They have evolved extensive genomic and metabolic reductions, making them highly dependent on their hosts for survival.Morphology and Genomic...
01:29Fungal 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...