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Clavispora lusitaniae and Chaetomium atrobrunneum as Rare Agents of Cutaneous Infection

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Abstract

We describe the first case of cutaneous infection caused by Chaetomium atrobrunneum and Clavispora lusitaniae in a one-and-a-half-year-old boy with acute and severe inflammation around his left eyelid. He presented to our outpatient center with a 6-day history and previously ineffective antibacterial therapy. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed hyphae and spores were on the surface of the crusty exudates and also penetrated into it, and the microbiology study further showed their characteristic cultural features. Fungal isolates were identified by the amplification and sequencing of the 26S RNA gene and of the ITS region, as C. lusitaniae and C. atrobrunneum. Up until now, most known clinical records of these rare species have shown them as agents of deep mycosis. Due to the emergency situation, medications were administered promptly and confirmed by subsequent fungal identification and successful therapeutic outcome. This article illustrates the importance of recognizing fungal infections, especially those caused by uncommon pathogens. Limitations in the routine identification procedures and therapeutic options of this emerging opportunistic agent are also discussed in this report.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Project 30570095 of National Natural Science Foundation of China.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Sichuan University West China Hospital, Chengdu, China

    Hao Zhang, Yuping Ran, Yun Xiang, Ruifeng Zhang & Yaling Dai

  2. Department of Dermatology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China

    Dongming Li

  3. Department of Infectious Disease, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China

    Yongfang Liu

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  1. Hao Zhang
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  2. Yuping Ran
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Correspondence to Yuping Ran.

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Zhang, H., Ran, Y., Li, D. et al. Clavispora lusitaniae and Chaetomium atrobrunneum as Rare Agents of Cutaneous Infection. Mycopathologia 169, 373–380 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-009-9266-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-009-9266-9

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