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Phialophora richardsiae infection in humans
D L Pitrak1, E W Koneman, R C Estupinan
1Department of Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago 60612.
Reviews of Infectious Diseases
|November 1, 1988
Summary
Phialophora richardsiae is a rare fungal infection in humans, typically presenting as a single subcutaneous lesion. Surgical excision is effective for localized nodules, but antifungal therapy recommendations are lacking.
Area of Science:
- Medical Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Phialophora richardsiae is a rare fungal pathogen.
- Human infections are infrequently documented, with only a few cases reported historically.
Observation:
- This report details a ninth human case of P. richardsiae infection.
- The mean age of affected individuals is 61.4 years.
- Comorbidities include diabetes mellitus, adrenocortical carcinoma, and myeloproliferative disorders.
Findings:
- Infections typically manifest as solitary subcutaneous cystic granulomatous lesions.
- One case presented with chronic dacryocystitis.
- More severe disease occurred in two immunocompromised patients with neoplastic conditions, both of whom had fatal outcomes.
- Diagnosis was confirmed via fungal culture from various sample types.
Implications:
- Surgical excision is a curative treatment for subcutaneous nodules.
- The efficacy of antifungal therapy for P. richardsiae infections remains undetermined.
- Further research is needed to establish optimal treatment protocols for this rare mycosis.