Cutaneous protothecosis in patient with diabetes mellitus and review of published case reports

Mycopathologia. 2012 Mar;173(2-3):163-71. doi: 10.1007/s11046-011-9480-0. Epub 2011 Oct 2.

Abstract

Protothecosis is an opportunistic infection caused by Prototheca, usually called as saprophytes, and is frequently found in natural and living surroundings with low virulence, but may cause chronic infection in immunocompromised individuals. We report a case of cutaneous protothecosis with zopfii var. portoricensis infection in a 66-year-old diabetic woman following hand surgery on middle right finger. Mycology study showed that smooth, creamy white, yeast-like colonies grown after necrotic tissue was cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar at both 37 and 25°C. The organism was then identified as Prototheca zopfii var. portoricensis by molecular identification and also found from histopathology of the lesion. The lesion got improved with intravenous amphotericin B and itraconazole.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Amphotericin B / therapeutic use
  • Diabetes Mellitus / surgery*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Itraconazole / therapeutic use
  • Opportunistic Infections / drug therapy
  • Opportunistic Infections / etiology
  • Opportunistic Infections / parasitology*
  • Postoperative Complications / drug therapy
  • Postoperative Complications / parasitology*
  • Prototheca / genetics
  • Prototheca / isolation & purification*
  • Prototheca / physiology
  • Skin Diseases / drug therapy
  • Skin Diseases / etiology
  • Skin Diseases / parasitology*

Substances

  • Itraconazole
  • Amphotericin B