TY - JOUR

T1 - Black yeast-like fungi in skin and nail

T2 - it probably matters

AU - Saunte, D M

AU - Tarazooie, B

AU - Arendrup, M C

AU - de Hoog, G S

N1 - © 2011 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.

PY - 2012/3

Y1 - 2012/3

N2 - Black yeast-like fungi are rarely reported from superficial infections. We noticed a consistent prevalence of these organisms as single isolations from mycological routine specimens. To investigate the prevalence of black yeast-like fungi in skin, hair and nail specimens and to discuss the probability of these species to be involved in disease. Slow-growing black yeast-like fungi in routine specimens were prospectively collected and identified. A questionnaire regarding patient information was sent to physicians regarding black yeast-like fungus positive patients. A total of 20,746 dermatological specimens were examined by culture. Black yeast-like fungi accounted for 2.2% (n=108) of the positive cultures. Only 31.0% of the samples, culture positive for black yeast-like fungi were direct microscopy positive when compared with overall 68.8% of the culture positive specimens. The most prevalent species were Phialophora europaea (n=29), Coniosporium epidermidis (n=12), Ochroconis cf. humicola (n=6) and Cladophialophora boppii (n=4). These are not common saprobes and thus less likely to be coincidental colonizers. In 10/30 cases, discolouration of nail/skin had been noticed. A limited number of black yeast-like fungi were repeatedly isolated from routine specimens suggesting that they may play a role in superficial infections or as colonizers.

AB - Black yeast-like fungi are rarely reported from superficial infections. We noticed a consistent prevalence of these organisms as single isolations from mycological routine specimens. To investigate the prevalence of black yeast-like fungi in skin, hair and nail specimens and to discuss the probability of these species to be involved in disease. Slow-growing black yeast-like fungi in routine specimens were prospectively collected and identified. A questionnaire regarding patient information was sent to physicians regarding black yeast-like fungus positive patients. A total of 20,746 dermatological specimens were examined by culture. Black yeast-like fungi accounted for 2.2% (n=108) of the positive cultures. Only 31.0% of the samples, culture positive for black yeast-like fungi were direct microscopy positive when compared with overall 68.8% of the culture positive specimens. The most prevalent species were Phialophora europaea (n=29), Coniosporium epidermidis (n=12), Ochroconis cf. humicola (n=6) and Cladophialophora boppii (n=4). These are not common saprobes and thus less likely to be coincidental colonizers. In 10/30 cases, discolouration of nail/skin had been noticed. A limited number of black yeast-like fungi were repeatedly isolated from routine specimens suggesting that they may play a role in superficial infections or as colonizers.

KW - Adolescent

KW - Adult

KW - Aged

KW - Aged, 80 and over

KW - Ascomycota/genetics

KW - Child

KW - Child, Preschool

KW - Female

KW - Foot Dermatoses/epidemiology

KW - Hand Dermatoses/epidemiology

KW - Humans

KW - Infant

KW - Male

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Mitosporic Fungi/genetics

KW - Mycological Typing Techniques

KW - Nails/microbiology

KW - Onychomycosis/epidemiology

KW - Skin/microbiology

KW - Surveys and Questionnaires

KW - Yeasts/genetics

U2 - 10.1111/j.1439-0507.2011.02055.x

DO - 10.1111/j.1439-0507.2011.02055.x

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 21736629

VL - 55

SP - 161

EP - 167

JO - Mycoses

JF - Mycoses

SN - 0933-7407

IS - 2

ER -