Journal of Mycology and Infection
Latest Publications


TOTAL DOCUMENTS

223
(FIVE YEARS 49)

H-INDEX

3
(FIVE YEARS 1)

Published By Korean Society For Medical Mycology

2465-8278, 1226-4709

2021 ◽  
pp. 57-64
Author(s):  
Jung Eun Kim ◽  
Kyung Jae Lee

Biologics, such as tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin inhibitors, are commonly used for treating immunological skin diseases, including psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and atopic dermatitis. The cluster of differentiation inhibitors and immune checkpoint inhibitors has also been used for treating bullous disorders and melanoma, respectively. Other small-molecule inhibitors, such as JAK inhibitors, have been introduced for treating atopic dermatitis and alopecia areata. Hence, given the importance of cytokines and small molecules in antifungal immunity, using these new treatments are proposed to increase the risk of fungal infections. Thus, this review presents an overview of the reported incidences and possible mechanisms of fungal infections related to the use of biologics, including small-molecule inhibitors used for dermatological treatments.


2021 ◽  
pp. 77-81
Author(s):  
Hoon Choi ◽  
Dong Hyun Shim ◽  
Min Sung Kim ◽  
Bong Seok Shin ◽  
Chan Ho Na

Cutaneous cryptococcosis is classified either as localized cutaneous cryptococcosis, in which the lesions are confined to one area of the skin, or as disseminated cryptococcosis, in which cutaneous manifestations are more widespread. We report a case of fatal disseminated cryptococcosis with characteristic cutaneous manifestations. An 84-year-old woman with diabetes presented with crusted plaques and ulcers that were painful, diffuse, and erythematous to crusted and on only the left side of her face, neck, and upper chest. She was referred to our hospital from a local clinic, where herpes zoster had been suspected. She had no specific systemic symptoms. Histological examination of the skin lesion revealed granulomatous reactions and purple to reddish encapsulated spores. Cryptococcus neoformans was identified in fungal culture, and hospitalization was recommended. Oral fluconazole was prescribed, and she was admitted to another hospital. After 2 weeks, the patient's condition deteriorated, and she was transferred to our hospital. C. neoformans antigen was detected in the blood and urine during the evaluation for systemic involvement. The patient was treated with intravenous amphotericin B and fluconazole; however, she died 10 days after admission. Cutaneous manifestations of disseminated cryptococcosis can appear in various forms and mimic molluscum contagiosum, Kaposi's sarcoma, and cellulitis. In this case, the skin lesions occurred on only the left side of the face, neck, and chest, as in herpes zoster. Cutaneous cryptococcosis can occur before the onset of symptoms of systemic involvement; therefore, diagnosis is important. Systemic evaluation may reveal early markers of disseminated cryptococcosis.


2021 ◽  
pp. 51-56
Author(s):  
Kyung Duck Park ◽  
Weon Ju Lee

Dermatophytosis is a skin disorder caused by dermatophytes. Dermatophytes isolated in South Korea include Trichophyton (T.) rubrum, T. mentagrophytes, T. verrucosum, T. tonsurans, T. violaceum, T. schoenleinii, Microsporum (M.) canis, M. ferrugineum, M. gypseum, and Epidermophyton floccosum. T. tonsurans was first found in South Korea in 1992. In contrast, there have been no recent reported cases of T. violaceum, T. schoenleinii, and M. ferrugineum in South Korea. Population mobility, changes in human lifestyles, development of the healthcare system, and the introduction of antifungals have brought about dermatophyte evolution in the skin microenvironment. We have reviewed the cases of dermatophytosis caused by M. ferrugineum, T. violaceum, and T. schoenleinii reported both in South Korea and globally.


2021 ◽  
pp. 72-76
Author(s):  
Nam Gyoung Ha ◽  
Kyung Duck Park ◽  
Yong Jun Bang ◽  
Jae Bok Jun ◽  
Jong Soo Choi ◽  
...  

Purpureocillium lilacinum is a saprophytic fungus with a ubiquitous environmental distribution, and it can be detected in soil samples and decaying materials worldwide. It has been reported as an emerging pathogen in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients, showing various cutaneous presentations. Herein, we report a case of a patient with a localized cutaneous P. lilacinum infection, which resembles the skin lesions of psoriasis. A 72-year-old female was presented with a peripherally spreading, well-demarcated, asymptomatic, scaly, erythematous patch on her forehead for several months. Histopathological examination showed pinkish septated fungal elements and mixed inflammatory and granulomatous infiltrates in the dermis. Furthermore, a fungal culture on potato dextrose agar showed gray, velvety colonies with light yellow background after being subcultured. Phialides with chains of oval conidia were observed on lactophenol cotton blue staining. The ITS region of rRNA gene sequence obtained from the colony was identical to that of Purpureocillium lilacinum. The lesion was resolved with oral itraconazole (200 mg/day) after four months of treatment.


2021 ◽  
pp. 65-71
Author(s):  
Taekwoon Kim Kim ◽  
Jeongsoo Lee ◽  
Joonsoo Park

Dermatomycosis is a skin disease caused by fungi, including dermatophytes and yeasts. Its diagnostic methods include KOH smear, fungal culture test, Wood's lamp test, biopsy, and molecular biology test. Superficial dermatomycosis can already be diagnosed using only KOH smear and culture test, so biopsy has not yet received attention from many clinicians. Nonetheless, biopsy is one of the most basic tests in the field of dermatology, with high diagnostic value for deep and superficial dermatomycoses, which often shows negative findings on KOH smear or fungal culture test. In this study, the histopathologic findings and special chemical staining methods in dermatomycosis are described. This review article is an upgraded English version of the review paper "Dermatomycosis from the perspective of dermatopathology (Korean Version 1.0)" published in 2016.


2021 ◽  
pp. 17-20
Author(s):  
Dong Heon Lee ◽  
Dong Hyek Jang ◽  
Mi Youn Park ◽  
Jiyoung Ahn ◽  
Hye Jung Jung

Serratia marcescens is an uncommon gram-negative bacterium strain that does not cause skin infections in healthy individuals. However, it is rarely reported as the causative agent of infection in immunosuppressed patients or in nosocomial infections. A 51-year-old man was admitted to a hospital presenting with pus and pain that had developed a month ago on a hypertrophic scar area of the back. Although he was on medication for diabetes mellitus, his blood sugar level was poorly controlled. In addition, two months earlier, he received an intralesional injection of 40 mg/mL triamcinolone twice for the hypertrophic scar of the back. S. marcescens was identified in the wound culture. His condition improved after ceftriaxone administration, debridement, and split-thickness skin grafts. Although S. marcescens is an infrequent cause of skin infections, it is important to remember that it may cause infection in some patients and that the course of the disease may be worse than that in a typical skin infection with poor prognosis.


2021 ◽  
pp. 8-12
Author(s):  
Eui-Sung Jung ◽  
Sang-Kyung Lee ◽  
Il-Jae Lee ◽  
Jin Park ◽  
Seok-Kweon Yun ◽  
...  

Purpureocillium lilacinum (formerly Paecilomyces lilacinus) is a saprophytic fungus found in the soil and decaying vegetation and is rarely pathogenic to humans. To our knowledge, only six cases of cutaneous infection caused by P. lilacinum have been reported in journals published by the Korean Dermatological Association and the Korean Society for Medical Mycology. Here, we report the case of a patient with localized cutaneous infection caused by P. lilacinum. An 84-year-old woman presented with a 2-month history of multiple plaques with surrounding erythematous patches on her left forearm and dorsum of the hand. Histopathological examination showed suppurative inflammation accompanied by fungal elements in the dermis. Furthermore, periodic acid-Schiff and methenamine silver staining showed revealed fungal elements. The sub-cultured fungus of the isolate revealed velvety pink colonies that were yellowish-tan on the reverse side, and lactophenol cotton blue staining showed flask-shaped phialides. The DNA sequence from the colony was identical to that of P. lilacinum. The patient was treated with oral itraconazole (200 mg/d) for 6 weeks that achieved significant improvement in the patient's condition.


2021 ◽  
pp. 13-16
Author(s):  
Jeongsoo Lee ◽  
Yongwoo Choi ◽  
Joonsoo Park

Tinea imbricata is a unique dermatophytosis caused by Trichophyton concentricum, observed endemically in subtropical to torrid zones. It is characterized by development of impressive concentric rings on the trunk or limbs. And few dermatophytosis cases mimicking this disease are reported as "tinea pseudoimbricata". Herein, we report a case of tinea pseudoimbricata caused by T. tonsurans with multiple concentric annular erythemas. The common clinical manifestations of T. tonsurans infection are tinea capitis and tinea corporis. However, tinea imbricate-like lesions are very rare. Fungal culture and microscopic findings confirmed a T. tonsurans infection in this case. The patient was treated with topical isoconazle and additional oral terbinafine.


Author(s):  
Joon Woo Jung ◽  
Eun Hye Hong ◽  
Eun Joo Park ◽  
Kwang Joong Kim ◽  
Kwang Ho Kim

Background: Acanthosis nigricans (AN) is a skin condition that presents clinically with hyperpigmented, hyperkeratotic, and velvety skin changes, especially in the intertriginous areas. The intertriginous areas are also susceptible to superficial cutaneous fungal infections. The potential relationship between AN and cutaneous fungal infection has not been investigated. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship, if any, between AN and fungal infection, both clinically and pathologically. Methods: A retrospective review was performed using electronic medical records and histology of biopsy slides obtained from 29 patients who were diagnosed with AN by two dermatopathologists. Comparison was made between the clinical and pathological findings of AN with fungal infection (ANFI+) and AN without fungal infection (ANFI-). Results: Among the 29 patients with AN, fungal spores were detected on the biopsy slides of 18 patients (62.1%) and appeared in the epidermal furrow more often than in the epidermal ridge. No significant clinical difference was found between the ANFI+ and ANFI- groups; however, in the ANFI+ group, lesions were more prevalent in the neck area (p = 0.048). In addition, the ANFI+ biopsy slides revealed more papillomatosis than ANFI- biopsy slides (p = 0.006). Conclusion: Fungal infection tends to appear in combination with AN when more severe papillomatosis is also present.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document