1/23. cryptococcosis during systemic glucocorticosteroid treatment.cryptococcosis is an opportunistic infection caused by a fungus, cryptococcus neoformans. It is usually seen in immunocompromised patients with AIDS, leukaemia, lymphoma, sarcoidosis or immunosuppressive treatments. We describe a patient who was treated with systemic glucocorticosteroids for 4 years because of lung sarcoidosis. During the last year of treatment, a papular eruption developed which later became ulcerative. In a histopathological examination of a skin biopsy, there was granulomatous inflammation, and the disease was treated as sarcoidosis without success. After 1 year's unsuccessful treatment, another skin biopsy and skin fungal culture revealed C. neoformans. Cryptococcal antigen was found in blood and cerebrospinal fluid, too. The patient was successfully treated first with an amphotericin-B-flucytosine combination and later with fluconazole.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = antigen (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/23. Disseminated histoplasmosis presenting as pyoderma gangrenosum-like lesions in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.A 33-year-old Hispanic woman with newly diagnosed human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) infection, a CD4 T-lymphocyte count of 2, viral load of 730,000 copies/mL, candidal esophagitis, seizure disorder, a history of bacterial pneumonia, and recent weight loss was admitted with tonic clonic seizure. On admission, her vital signs were: pulse of 88, respiration rate of 18, temperature of 37.7 degrees C, and blood pressure of 126/76. Her only medication was phenytoin. On examination, the patient was found to have multiple umbilicated papules on her face, as well as painful, erythematous, large, punched-out ulcers on the nose, face, trunk, and extremities of 3 months' duration (Fig. 1). The borders of the ulcers were irregular, raised, boggy, and undermined, while the base contained hemorrhagic exudate partially covered with necrotic eschar. The largest ulcer on the left mandible was 4 cm in diameter. The oral cavity was clear. Because of her subtherapeutic phenytoin level, the medication dose was adjusted, and she was empirically treated with Unasyn for presumptive bacterial infection. Chest radiograph and head computed tomography (CT) scan were within normal limits. sputum for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smear was negative. Serologic studies, including histoplasma antibodies, toxoplasmosis immunoglobulin m (IgM), rapid plasma reagin (RPR), hepatitis c virus (HCV), and hepatitis b virus (HBV) antibodies were all negative. Examination of the cerebrospinal fluid was within normal limits without the presence of cryptococcal antigen. Blood and cerebrospinal cultures for bacteria, mycobacteria, and fungi were all negative. Viral culture from one of the lesions was also negative. The analysis of her complete blood count showed: white blood count, 2300/microl; hemoglobin, 8.5 g/dL; hematocrit, 25.7%; and platelets, 114,000/microl. Two days after admission, the dermatology service was asked to evaluate the patient. Although the umbilicated papules on the patient's face resembled lesions of molluscum contagiosum, other infectious processes considered in the differential diagnosis included histoplasmosis, cryptococcosis, and penicillium marnefei. In addition, the morphology of the ulcers, particularly that on the left mandible, resembled lesions of pyoderma gangrenosum. A skin biopsy was performed on an ulcer on the chest. Histopathologic examination revealed granulomatous dermatitis with multiple budding yeast forms, predominantly within histiocytes, with few organisms residing extracellularly. methenamine silver stain confirmed the presence of 2-4 microm fungal spores suggestive of histoplasma capsulatum (Fig. 2). Because of the patient's deteriorating condition, intravenous amphotericin b was initiated after tissue culture was obtained. Within the first week of treatment, the skin lesions started to resolve. histoplasma capsulatum was later isolated by culture, confirming the diagnosis. The patient was continued on amphotericin b for a total of 10 weeks, and was started on lamivudine, stavudine, and nelfinavir for her hiv infection during hospitalization. After amphotericin b therapy, the patient was placed on life-long suppressive therapy with itraconazole. Follow-up at 9 months after the initial presentation revealed no evidence of relapse of histoplasmosis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = antigen (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/23. Case report. Cutaneous cryptococcosis in a patient with systemic erythematous lupus.The first case of a cutaneous cryptococcosis associated with systemic erythematous lupus (SLE) diagnosed in our mycology Reference Centre is presented: a 24-year-old female patient diagnosed with SLE, nephrotic syndrome, arterial hypertension, renal insufficiency due to glomerulonephritis type IV and cellulitis in the right thigh and gluteus. cryptococcus neoformans was isolated by cutaneous biopsy and haemoculture. Cryptococcal antigen was detected in serum by the latex agglutination test. As the patient did not respond to fluconazol intravenous treatment, amphotericin b administration was performed. She died of acute renal insufficiency.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = antigen (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/23. Secondary cutaneous aspergillosis due to aspergillus flavus in an acute myeloid leukaemia patient following stem cell transplantation.In a 64-year-old man suffering from hypoblastic myelodysplastic syndrome a secondary acute myeloid leukaemia developed. After induction chemotherapy with resulting partial remission he received an allogenic (related) peripheral blood stem cell transplantation conditioned with 2 Gy total body irradiation. After haematopoietic reconstitution chest pain and dyspnoea appeared. Computer tomography revealed diffuse bilateral infiltrates which were considered to be suspicious for an invasive pulmonary aspergillosis of the left upper lobe. Respiratory and circulatory insufficiency occurred. In bronchoalveolar lavage fluid Aspergillus antigen was detected. In addition, aspergillus flavus was isolated on Sabouraud-dextrose agar. Ambisome (liposomal encapsulated amphotericin b) was applied in high dosages. On the skin of the sides and the back five livid red stained nodular lesions with haemorrhagic infarctions appeared. Pathohistologically, both in PAS (periodate acid Schiff) and Grocott-Gomori staining conglomerates of septated hyphae were detected in corium and subcutis. In addition, aspergillus flavus grew from skin tissue. Despite antifungal treatment the patient died from Aspergillus pneumonia and generalized aspergillosis with dissemination to heart, brain, and skin.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = antigen (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/23. Cutaneous alternariosis in association with scabies or iatrogenic Cushing's syndrome.Cutaneous alternariosis is rare. Most infections occur in immunocompromised hosts. We report the first three cases in taiwan. The patients were elderly farmers residing in Tainan. They developed indolent, erythematous, ulcerated or crusted papules, plaques or pustules over the extensor aspect of the forearms or hands. Pure colonies of alternaria sp were isolated from biopsy specimens in each case. The diagnosis was confirmed by detecting pleomorphic fungal elements in the dermis within suppurative, granulomatous infiltrates. All three patients were immunocompromised. They showed a negative reaction to an intradermal test of seven common antigens. Cases 2 and 3 had iatrogenic Cushing's syndrome. Cases 1 and 3 had extensive scabies, which in Case 1 was of the Norwegian type. To the best of our knowledge, scabies associated with alternariosis has not been reported previously. The infection showed spontaneous regression in Case 1; in Case 2, it resolved after seven weeks of intralesional amphotericin b at a dose of 1 mg/mL twice a week.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = antigen (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/23. erythema multiforme ID reaction in atypical dermatophytosis: a case report.BACKGROUND: erythema multiforme (EM) is an uncommon mucocutaneous disorder, characterized by widespread erythematous-oedematous targetoid lesions, considered as a reaction pattern to many different stimuli. observation: Presentation is made of a classical EM eruption concomitant to an inflammatory, atypical dermatophytosis of the ala nasi, observed in a 37-year-old male at the dermatology Department of Cagliari, italy. methods: Laboratory investigations revealed normal complete blood count and biochemistry profile. A direct microscopic examination with 20% potassium hydroxide of the nasal skin scales and of the vibrissae indicated the presence of dermatophyte hyphae and spores invading the rhinothrix. culture confirmed a Trycophyton mentagrophytes infection. Specific determination of antiviral immunity in the blood (TORCH) was negative for recent infections, while the cell-mediated response, investigated with a delayed skin multitest, showed a marked positivity for the tricophyton antigen. Systemic therapy with terbinafine (250 mg/day) led to complete clinical and mycological recovery of the atypical ringworm in 30 days. Multiforme lesions rapidly improved and completely disappeared in 7 days. CONCLUSIONS: ID reaction to a distant focus of dermatophyte infection very rarely presents as EM. The presented case fits all the essential criteria required for the diagnosis of an ID reaction. The atypical clinical presentation of the ringworm infection, with marked involvement of the intranasal hairs, seems to have induced an inflammatory allergic response, similar to that evoked by sycosis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = antigen (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/23. Cutaneous cryptococcosis in a diabetic renal transplant recipient.A diabetic renal transplant recipient with cellulitis caused by cryptococcus neoformans, serotype A, is described. The diagnosis was based on the demonstration of capsulated, budding yeast cells in the aspirated material and tissue from the cellulitic lesion and isolation of the aetiological agent in culture. The isolate formed well-developed capsules in the brain tissue of experimentally infected mice and produced cherry-brown colonies on niger seed medium. The patient's serum was positive for cryptococcal antigen (titre 1 : 4) with no other evidence of systemic infection. He was successfully treated with AmBisome, followed by fluconazole, resulting in the complete resolution of cellulitis and disappearance of the cryptococcal antigen. This report underscores the fact that patients with cutaneous cryptococcosis should be thoroughly evaluated, as it may be the first manifestation of a systemic disease. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are important to improve survival.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = antigen (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/23. Primary cutaneous cryptococcosis in a lung transplant recipient.Cryptococcal skin lesions are found in 10 to 15% of patients with disseminated cryptococcosis. Primary skin inoculation by cryptococcus neoformans is rare but has been reported. We report the first known case of primary cutaneous cryptococcosis in a lung transplant recipient. Our patient, a 57-year-old man, underwent left single-lung transplantation and presented with a nonhealing ulcer 50 months later. skin histopathology and culture confirmed C. neoformans. serum and cerebrospinal fluid cryptococcal antigen tests were negative. The lesion healed after treatment with fluconazole. To date, disseminated disease is not evident. Primary cutaneous cryptococcosis has been reported in kidney and liver recipients but not in lung transplantation recipients. Nonhealing ulcers in immunocompromised patients mandate aggressive diagnostic procedures. Differential diagnosis of these cutaneous lesions should consider fungi, including C. neoformans.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = antigen (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/23. Primary cutaneous cryptococcosis and secondary antigenemia in a patient with long-term corticosteroid therapy.We report a case of a 71-year-old male who developed severe cellulitis of his right forearm and hand after he had an accidental injury from the sharp edge of a metal plate of a birdhouse. The patient suffers from chronic asthma and has been treated with systemic corticosteroids for years. culture of aspirates from two sites of the wound area revealed growth of cryptococcus neoformans in one and acinetobacter lwoffii in the other. After combined treatment including antibiotics, antifungal therapy with fluconazole 400 mg/d and surgical debridement followed by a mesh graft, the patient achieved complete healing of the wound. Five months after the infection, the patient was still positive for cryptococcal antigen at a titer of 1:64 despite oral treatment with fluconazole 50 mg/d, and maintenance therapy with fluconazole 200 mg/d was recommended for 6 months, or longer depending on further results. The clinical and microbiological characteristics of this patient as well as therapeutical and epidemiological aspects of primary cutaneous cryptococcosis (PCC) are discussed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5keywords = antigen (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/23. Disseminated crytococcosis with extensive cutaneous involvement in AIDS.Cutaneous infections is observed in 15% of patients with disseminated cryptococcosis with AIDS. We present here a case of a 34 years old female with AIDS. She presented with multiple skin coloured umbilicated over face, neck, trunk and limbs, which mimicked molluscum contagiosum and kaposi sarcoma. The tissue from cutaneous lesions was collected by excision biopsy and processed by standard mycological methods. cryptococcus neoformans was isolated and identified. cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) also yielded the growth of C. neoformans . Cryptococcal antigen was detected with a titre of 1024 by latex agglutination, is serum and CSF. Her serum was reactive for HIVI and 2 antibodies. The CD4 lymphocytes count was 80/cmm. The hiv viral load was 2,48,084 copies/mL. She was treated with amphotericin b injectable and oral fluconazole. She responded well and lesions regressed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = antigen (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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