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Phaeohyphomycosis

Jonathan T Arcobello1, Sanjay G Revankar1

  • 1Infectious Disease Department, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan.

Seminars in Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
|January 31, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Phaeohyphomycosis, caused by melanized fungi, can lead to severe invasive disease in any host. Diagnosis relies on histology and culture, with treatment based on limited clinical data.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Medical Mycology

Background:

  • Phaeohyphomycosis is caused by dematiaceous (melanized) fungi, characterized by melanin in their cell walls.
  • Exposure to these ubiquitous fungi is common via inhalation, but infection development is rare.
  • Invasive disease, though uncommon, poses a significant threat to both immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the characteristics of phaeohyphomycosis.
  • To highlight the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges associated with these fungal infections.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on phaeohyphomycosis.
  • Analysis of clinical manifestations, diagnostic approaches, and treatment strategies.

Main Results:

  • Melanized fungi can cause diverse invasive manifestations, including deep local, pulmonary, cerebral, and disseminated infections.
  • Disseminated disease carries a high mortality rate.
  • Histology and culture remain the primary diagnostic tools, despite advances in molecular techniques.

Conclusions:

  • Phaeohyphomycosis is a serious fungal infection with varied presentations and a significant mortality risk, particularly in disseminated forms.
  • Current diagnostic and therapeutic approaches are limited, emphasizing the need for further research and standardized protocols.

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