Hendersonula toruloidea and Scytalidium hyalinum infections in London, England

In a survey of 399 patients with superficial fungal lesions who had been born outside Western Europe, 32 cases of Hendersonula toruloidea infection and 11 cases of Scytalidium hyalinum infection were diagnosed. The hyphae of these two non-dermatophytes in skin were indistinguishable from each other but could be distinguished from those of dermatophytes. Both the non-dermatophyte infections were limited to the palms, soles, two webs and nails. The geographical origins of the infected patients were analysed and it appeared that S. hyalinum infection was geographically more limited than H. toruloidea infection.