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Disseminated cutaneous fungal infection and AIDS

H A Oriba1, J S Lo, W F Bergfeld

  • 1Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine.

Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine
|March 1, 1990
PubMed

Insights

Extensive fungal skin infections in an AIDS patient were resistant to all treatments. This severe cutaneous mycosis may indicate early human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.

Area of Science:

  • Clinical Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Dermatology

Background:

  • Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) predisposes individuals to opportunistic infections.
  • Cutaneous fungal infections are common in immunocompromised patients.
  • Generalized polydermatophyte and Candida infections represent a significant clinical challenge.

Observation:

  • A case of recalcitrant generalized cutaneous polydermatophyte and Candida infection in an AIDS patient is presented.
  • The patient exhibited a poor response to topical, oral, and intravenous antifungal therapies.
  • The infection persisted despite aggressive treatment regimens.

Findings:

  • The patient succumbed to respiratory arrest due to pneumonia 14 months post-cutaneous fungal infection onset and 12 months post-AIDS diagnosis.
  • Refractory extensive cutaneous fungal infections were observed.
  • The case highlights the severity and poor prognosis associated with disseminated fungal infections in advanced HIV.

Implications:

  • Extensive, treatment-refractory cutaneous fungal infections may serve as an early indicator of underlying human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.
  • Dermatologists and infectious disease specialists should consider HIV testing in patients presenting with such severe mycoses.
  • This case underscores the importance of early diagnosis and management of HIV to prevent opportunistic infections and improve patient outcomes.

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