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A Case of Cutaneous Infection by Alternaria alternata

Abstract



Alternaria(A.) species are common saprophyte found in the environment such as soil, air, and plants. They are not usually pathogenic in humans but recently, infections by these fungi have occasionally been reported, occurring mostly in immunocompromised patients. They can cause hypersensitivity pneumonitis, bronchial asthma, or allergic rhinitis and rarely skin infection. A 76-year-old man presented with multiple erythematous papules, plaque and pustules with purpuric patches on both forearms and dorsal hands for 6 months. He had been treated for Parkinson's disease and dementia for 3 years but had not been taking any immunosuppressants. Direct smear with KOH was negative. Histopatholoigically, neutrophilic abscess, suppurative granulomatous inflammation and round spores were observed in the dermis. Periodic acid-Schiff and Methenamine silver stains revealed round to oval shaped spores. The biopsy specimen was cultured in potato dextrose agar and a cottony olive green to gray colored colony with black to brown

reverse grew at 7 days of culture. The slide culture stained with lactophenol-cotton blue showed brown septated hyphae and obclavate conidia with brown muriform septation. The nucleotide sequences of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer region of cultured colonies and paraffin blocks of biopsy specimen were identical to that of A. alternata. He was treated with topical ketoconazole cream application for 4 months, and healed leaving hyperpigmentation with scales.



Keywords


Alternaria alternata Cutaneous alternariosis Ketoconazole




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