White piedra: further evidence of a synergistic infection.
White piedra is a fungal infection of the hair shaft caused by Trichosporon beigelii. A synergistic coryneform bacterial infection is often present with T beigelii. White piedra, although not commonly reported to infect scalp hair in North America, is an important consideration in the differential diagnosis of scalp hair concretions. We report a case of white piedra of scalp hair with synergistic coryneform bacterial infection in two sisters, both US natives. Culture and light and electronmicroscopic evidence of the synergistic infection are presented.
D000193:Actinomycetales Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D000293:Adolescent; D006801:Humans; D010854:Piedra / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics