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Cutaneous protothecosis and AIDS
A Woolrich1, E Koestenblatt, P Don
1Department of Dermatology, New York Medical College, Metropolitan Hospital Center, NY 10029.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
|November 1, 1994
Summary
Cutaneous protothecosis, an algal infection, is rare in immunocompromised individuals. This report details the first known case in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
- Dermatology
Background:
- Cutaneous protothecosis is an infrequent infection caused by Prototheca algae.
- It predominantly affects immunocompromised individuals, presenting with diverse clinical manifestations.
Observation:
- A 33-year-old Hispanic woman diagnosed with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) presented with a verrucous plaque on her hand.
- Biopsy results indicated the presence of organisms resembling Prototheca.
Findings:
- Microbiological culture confirmed the causative agent as Prototheca wickerhamii.
- This case represents the first documented instance of cutaneous protothecosis in an individual with AIDS.
Implications:
- This finding expands the known clinical spectrum of protothecosis in immunocompromised hosts.
- Highlights the importance of considering unusual infections in patients with advanced HIV/AIDS.