A 52-year-old woman with lupus developed a widespread fungal skin infection that was initially mistaken for worsening lupus symptoms. The infection affected her scalp, face, and nails with two different types of fungi. After six months of treatment with antifungal medications, her symptoms resolved completely with no return of the infection during follow-up.
Researchers in Shanghai studied 33 patients with deep skin fungal infections that had become increasingly common in the area. They identified 13 different fungal species causing these infections, most commonly Candida parapsilosis, Trichophyton rubrum, and Sporothrix schenckii. Patients were treated with antifungal medications tailored to the specific fungus and its drug sensitivity, with most patients recovering completely, though some experienced relapses, emphasizing the importance of long-term follow-up care.
This study examined rare but serious fungal infections caused by Scedosporium and Lomentospora in lung transplant patients. Of 576 transplant recipients, 11 (2%) developed these infections, which are difficult to treat due to natural resistance to most antifungal medications. The infection type greatly influenced outcomes, with disseminated Lomentospora infections causing 100% mortality despite treatment. The research highlights the urgent need for new diagnostic methods and more effective antifungal drugs to combat these emerging pathogens.
This study examined 48 patients with serious mould and fungal infections at a South African hospital between 2014-2017. Most infections occurred in people with weak immune systems, especially those with HIV. The most common fungal type was Aspergillus. Even with appropriate antifungal medicines, one-quarter of patients died, highlighting how serious these infections can be.
This case describes a patient with blood cancer who developed a rare and deadly mold infection called Lomentospora prolificans while receiving cancer treatment. The infection was difficult to diagnose initially because the fungal structures looked similar to yeast under the microscope, and a molecular test gave a false positive result for a different fungus. Unfortunately, the infection was resistant to all available antifungal medications and the patient died.
This study examined fungal skin infections in children and teens in Northern Poland over six years, finding that about 1 in 5 children tested had a fungal infection. Different types of fungal infections were more common at different ages—younger children more often had scalp infections, while teenagers more often had foot and nail infections. The study found that children living in rural areas had higher infection rates than those in cities, suggesting that environmental factors play an important role in fungal infection patterns.
Scientists discovered a new black yeast fungus called Phialophora submersa in Spanish river sediments and tested whether it could infect humans. Using laboratory macrophage (immune cell) models, they found that this environmental fungus exhibits pathogenic potential similar to known disease-causing Phialophora species, though at intermediate levels. The fungus showed resistance to some antifungal drugs and displayed strain-dependent ability to survive various stress conditions. This research suggests that environmental fungal species may pose unexpected health risks despite not being able to grow at normal human body temperature.
A 69-year-old woman with breast cancer developed a skin infection caused by a rare fungus called Cladophialophora boppii while taking dexamethasone for cancer treatment. Doctors diagnosed the infection through skin biopsy and fungal testing, then removed the infected area surgically. After three weeks of antifungal medication (itraconazole), the infection cleared completely and did not return during four months of follow-up. This case suggests that surgery combined with short-term antifungal treatment may be sufficient for this type of infection.
A 72-year-old patient being treated with acalabrutinib for blood cancer developed a slowly growing skin ulcer on the thigh. Testing identified a fungal infection caused by Alternaria alternata, a mold found in soil and air. The patient was successfully treated with an antifungal medication called posaconazole, with the ulcer healing over one month. This case highlights that doctors should check for fungal infections in chronic skin wounds of patients taking BTK inhibitor medications.