Related Experiment Videos
Cutaneous Bipolaris spicifera infection
B F Straka1, P H Cooper, B A Body
1Department of Dermatology, University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, Charlottesville 22908.
Archives of Dermatology
|October 1, 1989
Summary
Bipolaris spicifera, a rare cause of human skin infection, was identified in a leukemia patient with a leg ulcer. Successful treatment involved surgery, skin grafting, and antifungal medication.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Dermatology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Bipolaris spicifera is a dematiaceous fungus seldom documented as a cause of human cutaneous infections.
- Fungal skin infections can pose challenges, particularly in immunocompromised individuals.
Observation:
- A leukemia patient presented with a persistent, non-healing leg ulcer post-trauma.
- Histopathology showed nonpigmented, septate fungal hyphae within the ulcer's necrotic tissue.
- Fungal cultures produced characteristic gray-black colonies with a black reverse.
Findings:
- Microscopic analysis confirmed dematiaceous, oblong conidia, identifying the fungus as Bipolaris spicifera.
- The clinical presentation and laboratory findings were consistent with a Bipolaris spicifera cutaneous infection.
Implications:
- This case highlights Bipolaris spicifera as a potential pathogen in human cutaneous infections, especially in immunocompromised hosts.
- Effective management involved a multimodal approach including surgical intervention and antifungal therapy (amphotericin B).
- Further research into Bipolaris spicifera's pathogenicity and treatment strategies is warranted.