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Published on: April 19, 2017
Phaeohyphomycosis caused by Phaeoacremonium inflatipes
A A Padhye1, M S Davis, D Baer
1Mycotic Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA. AAP1@cdc.gov
Journal of Clinical Microbiology
|August 15, 1998
Summary
Phaeoacremonium inflatipes caused a rare subcutaneous foot infection in an elderly woman. Surgical removal of the granulomatous growth resulted in complete healing, highlighting successful treatment of this fungal infection.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Medical Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Fungal infections can present with diverse clinical manifestations.
- Accurate identification of fungal pathogens is crucial for effective treatment.
- Phaeoacremonium species are increasingly recognized as agents of human mycoses.
Observation:
- An 83-year-old woman presented with a subcutaneous granulomatous growth on her left foot.
- Histopathological examination revealed septate, pigmented hyphal elements consistent with fungal elements.
- Microscopic morphology of cultured isolates identified Phaeoacremonium inflatipes.
Findings:
- Phaeoacremonium inflatipes was identified as the causative agent of the subcutaneous foot infection.
- The fungal hyphae were septate, branched, and phaeoid, with characteristic conidiophores and phialides.
- Conidia were oblong, ellipsoid to allantoid, and subhyaline.
Implications:
- Surgical excision is an effective treatment for localized Phaeoacremonium subcutaneous infections.
- This case expands the known clinical spectrum of Phaeoacremonium inflatipes infections.
- Early diagnosis and prompt intervention are key to successful management of mycoses.
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