Geotrichum(G.) candidum is a common fungus that is rarely pathogenic for man, first described by Link in 1809, and according to Dodge this fungus is classified as a subspecies of Eremnascaeae imperfectae. This species is largely saprophytic and is usually found in soil, decaying matters, and milk product, although isolation from skin, sputum, and feces of man is not unusual. Geotrichosis, caused by G. candidum may occur as an infection of the lung simulating chronic pulmonary tuberculosis or disseminated infection. Very rarely, skin and mucous membrane infection has been documented. These infections usually affect immunocompromised hosts. Literature concerning skin or soft tissue infection with this fungus is limited, especially in immunocompetent persons there are only a few reports by this organism. In this paper we report a case of cutaneous geotrichosis involving skin in a healthy woman, in which case steroid and trauma was supposed to play some roles in the pathogenesis.
Feces ; Female ; Fungi ; Geotrichosis ; Geotrichum* ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Lung ; Milk ; Mucous Membrane ; Skin ; Soft Tissue Infections ; Soil ; Sputum ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

As increasing numbers of antibiotics, adrenocorticosteroids, and antitumor agents have come into use, so increasing numbars of mycotic diseases have been identified. Qtomycosis, a mycotic infection of the extcrnal ear which is occasionally accompanied by dermatitis of the surrounding skin, is corsidered to be such a disease. While opinion vari.es as to whether otomycosis is caused by a saprophytic or a pathogenic organism, our clinical obs:rvations revealed pathological inflammation of the external auditory canal with profuse fungal elements. During August 1975, l3 specimens of ear wax were taken from patients whv visited the out-patient ENT clinic of this hospital. All patients had had their ears clea,ned at a barber shop prior to visiting the ENT clinic. Because ar cleaning instrumenta (scoops and brushes) are re-used m Korean Sarber shops, 204 of theae in- strum.ent;s were randomly selected from different barber shops and examined. KGH mounts and Lactophenol cot@ten blue stains were used to examine the specimens. Qf the lR ear wax specimens, I2 samples (92. 3%) reveaIed Aspergillus sp. and 1 sample (7. 7%) revealed Penicillium sp. Of the 204 ear cleaning instrumenta tested, l94 colonies grew in culture. Of these cultures, 146 (75. 3 %) were Aspergillus sp., 9 (4. 6%) were Mycelia sterila, 5 (2. 6%) were Fenicillium sp., 4 (2. 1 %) wr Al- terna,ria, 2 (l. 0%) were Stemphylium sp., 1 (0. 5%) was Geotrichum sp., and 27 (13. 9%) were of an unknown species. Of the 146 Aspergillius sp. cultures, 99 (67. 8%) were Asp. terreus, 17 (11.6%) were Asp. glaucus, 5 (3.4%) were Asp. niger, 17 (11. 6%) were Asp. flavus-oryzRC, R (2. 1 %) Were Asp. versicolor, and 5 (3. 4 %) were athers. Beca.use of the close correlation between the fungi cultivated from ear wax apc imens and those cultured from ea,r cleaning instruments, the authors believe that the ear cleaning instruments used in the barber shops could well have been the primary source of infection. In this study the authors also discuss the probable causative factbrs of otomycosis arrd a review of the literature is presented.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Antineoplastic Agents ; Aspergillus ; Cerumen ; Coloring Agents ; Dermatitis ; Ear ; Ear Canal ; Epidemiologic Studies* ; Fungi ; Geotrichum ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Niger ; Otomycosis* ; Outpatients ; Penicillium ; Skin ; Viperidae

The air-borne fungi are usually considered to be as non-pathogenic and saprophytic organisms. However, those can be causative factors of certain allergic disease, and produce mycotoxic diseases such as caused by aflatoxin B1,or opportunistic infections, since various kinds of antitumor agents and adrenocorticosteroids have been introduced to therapeutics, and those who are affected some malignant tumors or metabolic anomalous diseases. As the first step toward. understanding and controlling the diseases, the studies on the population of air-borne fungi seem to be necessary. Authors studied the fluctuations of population of air-borne fungi at monthly intervals from June 1974 through May 1975 and at various times of the day at different places in th hospital, and the results obtained were as follows: 1. The identified fungi species and the percentage of colony counts of each species were Hormodendrum sp. (37. 2% ), Penicillium sp. (18. 8% ), Aspergillus sp, (17. 6 % ), Alternaria sp. (6.3 %), Mycelia sterila (2.6 %), Paecilomyces sp. (1.2 %) RhodO torula sp. (1. 1 % ), Oospora, sp. (0, 7 % ), Rhizopus sp. (0. 6 %. ), Geotrichum sp. (0.4%), Monilia sp. (0.4%), Mucor sp. (0.4%), Trichoderma sp. (0.4%.), Trichosporon sp. (0. 1%), Stemphylium sp. (0. 1 % ), Helminthosporium sp. (0. 1%) Gliocladium sp. (0. 1,: ), Saccharomyces sp. (0. 1 % ), Trichothecium sp. (0. 03 % ), and other unknown species(11. 6%) in decreasing order of frequency. 2. The monthly fluctuations of number of cultured colonies of four major airborne fungi (Hormodendrum, Penicillium. Aspergillus, and Alternaria) were 649 in June, 105 in July, 372 in August, 431 in September, 188 in October, 241 in November and 89 in December 1974, and 92 in January, 115 in February, 77 in March, 178 in April and 116 in May 1975. 3. It was suggested that there might be a relationship among the humidity, the temperature and the population of the air-borne fungi because the abrupt drop in July seemed to be related to high level of tbe,humidity (86.8%) and the temyerature (24. 3'C). And since the total number of colonies decreased markedly in December 1974 and Junuary 1975, it seemed to be closely related to cold weather temperature. 4. The number of cultured colonies at various times of the day did not show much fluctuation, except that Aspergillus sp. showed sudden tremendous increase at. one occasion, at 3: 00 P.M. on 15th of June and that gradual increase of Hormodendrum sp. was noted on another occasion from 12: 00 A.M. on 15th of September. 5. With regard to the locations of sampling, such as the operating room, laboratory, ward and out-patient department in the hospital, the difference in the identified. fungi species, the number of colony counts and the relationship with the humidity A the temperature was not evident. Authors reviewed relevant literatures and made discussions also.
Aflatoxins ; Alternaria ; Antineoplastic Agents ; Aspergillus ; Candida ; Cryptococcus ; Fungi* ; Geotrichum ; Gliocladium ; Helminthosporium ; Humans ; Humidity ; Mucor ; Operating Rooms ; Opportunistic Infections ; Outpatients ; Paecilomyces ; Penicillium ; Rhizopus ; Saccharomyces ; Trichoderma ; Trichosporon ; Weather