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Superficial Fungal Infections. Caused by fungi that are capable of colonizing (cutaneous microbiome) and superficially invading skin and mucosal sites:
Candida species
Malassezia species
Dermatophytes.
Deeper, Chronic Cutaneous Fungal Infections. Occur after percutaneous inoculation:
Systemic Fungal Infections with Cutaneous Dissemination. Occur most often with host defense defects. Primary lung infection disseminates hematogenously to multiple organ systems, including the skin: Cryptococcosis, histoplasmosis, North American blastomycosis, coccidioidomycosis, and penicillinosis.
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Superficial Fungal Infections
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Superficial fungal infections are the most common of all mucocutaneous infections, often caused by overgrowth of mucocutaneous microbiome.
Candida Species. Require a warm humid microenvironment.
Malassezia Species. Require a humid microenvironment and lipids for growth.
Dermatophytes. Infect keratinized epithelium, hair follicles, and nail apparatus Trichosporon species Hortaea (Exophiala or Phaeoannellomyces) werneckii: Tinea nigra
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ICD-9: 112 ○ ICD-10: B37.0
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Clinical Manifestation
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Otherwise healthy individuals: oropharynx and genitalia. Host defense defects: in the esophagus and tracheobronchial tree.
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Intertriginous and occluded skin.
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Disseminated Candidemia
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Host defense defects, especially neutropenia. Usually after invasion of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
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Epidemiology and Etiology
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C. albicans, C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis, C. guilliermondii, C. krusei, C. pseudotropicalis, C. lusitaniae, C. glabrata.
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Candida spp. frequently colonize the GI tract and can be transmitted via the birth canal. Approximately 20% of healthy individals are colonized. Antibiotic therapy increases the incidence of colonization.
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Ten percent of women are colonized vaginally; antibiotic therapy, pregnancy, oral contraception, and intrauterine devices increase incidence. C. albicans may transiently be present on the skin and infection is usually endogenous. Candida balanitis may be transmitted from sexual partner. The young and old are more likely to be colonized.
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Host defense defects, diabetes mellitus, obesity; hyperhidrosis, warm climate, maceration; polyendocrinopathies; glucocorticoids; chronic debilitation.
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Laboratory Examinations
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KOH preparation visualizes pseudohyphae and yeast forms (Fig. 26-1).
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Identifies species of Candida; however, the presence in culture of C. albicans does not make the diagnosis of candidiasis. Sensitivities to antifungal agents can be performed on isolate in cases of recurrent infection. Rule out bacterial secondary infection.