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Cutaneous phaeohyphomycosis caused by Paraconiothyrium cyclothyrioides
Rachel A Gordon1, Deanna A Sutton, Elizabeth H Thompson
1Center for Clinical Studies, Houston, Texas, USA.
Journal of Clinical Microbiology
|August 24, 2012
Summary
Paraconiothyrium cyclothyrioides, a fungal species, caused chronic skin lesions in a renal transplant patient. Posaconazole treatment successfully resolved these lesions, highlighting the fungus as an opportunistic pathogen in immunocompromised individuals.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
- Dermatology
Background:
- Paraconiothyrium cyclothyrioides is a recently identified coelomycetous fungus.
- Opportunistic fungal infections pose a significant threat to immunocompromised patients, particularly organ transplant recipients.
Observation:
- A case study involving a renal transplant patient with persistent, chronic skin lesions on the lower extremities is presented.
- The lesions were clinically attributed to an infection by Paraconiothyrium cyclothyrioides.
Findings:
- Microscopic and potentially molecular identification confirmed P. cyclothyrioides as the causative agent.
- Treatment with the antifungal medication posaconazole resulted in the complete resolution of the skin lesions.
Implications:
- This case underscores the potential of P. cyclothyrioides to act as an opportunistic human pathogen.
- Clinicians should consider P. cyclothyrioides in the differential diagnosis of skin infections in immunocompromised patients.
- Antifungal therapy, such as posaconazole, can be effective in managing P. cyclothyrioides infections.
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