No abstract available.
Alternariosis*

No abstract available.
Alternariosis* ; Transplant Recipients*

Alternaria is a common saprophyte that is not usually pathogenic in humans. However, infections by the fungus have occasionally been documented, occurring mostly in immunocompromised patients. We report a case of cutaneous alternariosis caused by Alternaria alternata in a 64-year-old woman presenting with a coin-sized, slightly elevated, dark red plaque on the right wrist without systemic immunosuppression. Macroscopic and microscopic morphology of fungal culture and histopathological differentiation offered diagnostic possibility. Systemic roxithromycin and itraconazole were administered with a dramatic resolution of the lesion.
Alternaria* ; Alternariosis* ; Female ; Fungi ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Immunosuppression ; Itraconazole ; Middle Aged ; Roxithromycin ; Wrist

Alternaria species are common plant pathogens, but rare causes of human infection. We present a case of primary cutaneous alternariosis with iatrogenic Cushing syndrome. A 59-year-old woman presented with a spreading erythematous ulcerative patch containing chocolate-colored pus draining sinuses. Histopathology and culture of lesional skin were consistent with alternariosis. The cutaneous lesion cleared following treatment with itraconazole, 200mg daily, for 7 months without significant side effect and there was no evidence of relapse for 4 months.
Alternaria ; Alternariosis* ; Cushing Syndrome* ; Female ; Humans ; Itraconazole ; Middle Aged ; Plants ; Recurrence ; Skin ; Suppuration ; Ulcer

The genus Alternaria contains several species of melanized hypomycetes that cause opportunistic human infections. The most frequent clinical manifestations of alternariosis are cutaneous and subcutaneous infections, followed by oculomycosis, invasive and non-invasive rhinosinusitis, and onychomycosis. So far, only 17 cases of rhinosinusitis caused by Alternaria species have been reported since 1977. Although several domestic cases of cutaneous alternariosis have been reported, there is no report of Alternaria rhinosinusitis in Korea. The majority of Alternaria rhinosinusitis involves immunocompromised patients. We report the first case of alternariosis in a patient with neutropenia and myelodysplastic syndrome that was treated with endoscopic debridement and a conventional antifungal agent.
Alternaria ; Alternariosis ; Debridement ; Eye Infections, Fungal ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Korea ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; Neutropenia ; Onychomycosis ; Sinusitis

Alternariosis is a genus of dematiaceous fungi frequently found in air, soil and plants, but not usually pathogenic in humans. Most reports of alternariosis are immunosuppressed hosts, including solid-organ transplant recipients. We report a case of cutaneous alternariosis in a 53-year-old renal transplant recipient, which was successfully treated with local excision without concomittant reduction of immunosuppressive agents and antifungal therapy.
Alternariosis* ; Fungi ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Kidney Transplantation ; Middle Aged ; Soil ; Transplantation*

Alternaria is a common saprophytic fungus found in the environment such as soil, air, and a variety of objects. The cutaneous infection caused by this fungus occurs more frequent in patients with immunocompromission than in immunocompetent people. We report a case of cutaneous alternariosis in a 63-year-old woman presented with a tender erythematous patch on the right forearm. She was on medication only for hypertension. Histopathologic examination showed a dermal mixed-cell infiltrate including multinucleated giant cells. PAS staining revealed fungal elements in the dermis. Microscopic examination of the colonies showed muriform conidia. A diagnosis of cutaneous infection due to Alternaria species was made on the basis of the above mentioned findings. Oral administration of fluconazole revealed resolution of her cutaneous lesion.
Administration, Oral ; Alternaria ; Alternariosis ; Dermis ; Female ; Fluconazole ; Forearm ; Fungi ; Giant Cells ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Middle Aged ; Soil ; Spores, Fungal

Alternaria species belong to the group of dematiacious fungi that have increasingly been reported as pathogens in immunocompromised patients, although cutaneous infection is regarded as a rare opportunistic infection. We describe a case of cutaneous alternariosis in a 66 year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis. The lesions showed asymptomatic, edematous, violaceous scaly patches on both forearms. Histopathologic findings revealed chronic granulomatous inflammation, and PAS staining identified hyphae and spores. The organism was finally isolated as alternaria species by repeated fungal cultures of the tissue. Treatment with 200mg/day oral itraconazole for three months resulted in a marked regression of the skin lesions.
Aged ; Alternaria ; Alternariosis* ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Female ; Forearm ; Fungi ; Humans ; Hyphae ; Immunocompromised Host ; Inflammation ; Itraconazole ; Opportunistic Infections ; Skin ; Spores

The Alternaria species are dematiaceous fungi. Human infection due to dematiaceous fungi is uncommon. Most reported cases of alternariosis have occurred in patients with immunodeficiency. The majority of cases were solid-organ transplantation recipients. Cutaneous alternariosis lesions are usually asymptomatic solitary nodules, plaques of ulcers or subcutaneous cysts. Here we report a case of a 77-year-old female who presented with hemorrhagic skin necrosis in right arm that had developed from hemorrhagic bullae. Her prior medical history included iatrogenic Cushing's syndrome, hypertension, interstitial lung disease and congestive heart failure. Following administration of itraconazole, her lesions improved.
Aged ; Alternaria ; Alternariosis ; Arm ; Cushing Syndrome ; Female ; Fungi ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Itraconazole ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; Necrosis ; Phaeohyphomycosis ; Skin ; Ulcer

Alternaria species are common plant pathogens and saprophytic fungi. Cutaneous alternariosis is rare and an opportunistic infection in both healthy and immunosuppressed hosts. We report a case of cutaneous alternariosis developed in a 60-year-old female with iatrogenic Cushing syndrome. She had several various sized confluent suppurative ulcers on erythematous plaques on the both forearm clinically. Histology showed mixed-cell granulomatous infiltration with epithelioid cells, lymphocytes, neutrophils and a few plasma cells in the dermis. Many branching septate hyphae and spores were noted within the granulomatous tissue stained with PAS. A fungal culture from biopsy specimen revealed Alternaria species; pigmented hyphae and cornidia which had both transverse and longitudinal septae. The cutaneous lesions treated with terbinafine, 250 mg daily, for 3 months and 1 year later there is no evidence of recurrence.
Alternaria ; Alternariosis* ; Biopsy ; Cushing Syndrome ; Dermis ; Epithelioid Cells ; Female ; Forearm ; Fungi ; Humans ; Hyphae ; Immunocompromised Host ; Lymphocytes ; Middle Aged ; Neutrophils ; Opportunistic Infections ; Plants ; Plasma Cells ; Recurrence ; Spores ; Ulcer