Prototheca wickerhamii--an alga infecting the hand.
This report describes a hand infection caused by an alga. Prototheca wickerhamii. This rare organism presents most often as chronic dermatitis or bursitis of the upper extremity. Routine stains and cultures are easily confused with fungi. Only early, radical excision of the involved structures will effect a cure.
D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections; D011525:Prototheca / Q000302:isolation & purification*