Scytalidiosis in Paris, France.
BACKGROUND
Scytalidium dimidiatum and S hyalinum are molds responsible for human skin and nail infections in tropical areas.


OBJECTIVE
We sought to examine the epidemiology of cutaneous infections caused by Scytalidium species in a temperate country.


METHODS
We conducted a retrospective study of patients with Scytalidium spp. infection diagnosed in our laboratory in Paris, France, from 1994 to 1999.


RESULTS
Cutaneous Scytalidium infections were diagnosed in 332 patients, all of whom were from the tropics, especially the West Indies and Africa. S hyalinum and S dimidiatum were isolated in 53.6% and 43.9% of cases, respectively, and were associated with dermatophytes in 30 patients. Skin and nail lesions were found in, respectively, 65.3% and 34.7% of cases, and the feet were involved in 90.6% of cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Cutaneous infections caused by Scytalidium species are far from rare in France, a temperate country, and must not be mistaken for dermatophytosis, given the resistance of S hyalinum and S dimidiatum to most antifungal drugs. Mycologic examination is, thus, required to identify Scytalidium spp in patients returning from or residing in tropical areas.
Lacroix
Claire
C
Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Hôpital Saint Louis, Paris, France. claire.lacroix@sls.ap-hop-paris.fr
Kac
Guillaume
G
Dubertret
Louis
L
Morel
Patrice
P
Derouin
Francis
F
de Chauvin
Martine Feuilhade
MF
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001203:Ascomycota; D005260:Female; D005533:Foot Dermatoses / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014009:Onychomycosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D010297:Paris / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies