title: Fifteen cases of penicilliosis in Guangdong, China.
abstract: We analyzed the occurrence, clinical and physical features, laboratory findings, diagnostic criteria, reaction to therapy and prognosis of 15 cases Penecilliosis marneffei. Four were localized infection on skin, eleven were systemic infection, all cases were found in Guangdong province of China. We found that males were predominant in infection compared with females in 15 patients, and all patients observed had different occupations. The patients with AIDS as underlying disease were commonly drivers or unemployed. Thirteen of 15 patients had underlying diseases, i.e., connective tissue disease, aplastic anemia, kidney transplant, AIDS. Clinical features showed different symptoms, including weight loss, high fever, skin lesions, and respiratory system symptoms. Seven of 15 patients received antifungal therapy, the remaining eight patients did not receive therapy for different reasons. Nine of the patients died five recovered. Fifteen isolates were cultured from skin lesions, blood, bone marrow, peritoneum dialysis and pleural effusion and were confirmed to be Penicillium marneffei by morphology, thermal dimorphism, pathology and DNA sequence analysis. This report indicates that Penicillium marneffei may exist in nature in Guangdong province of SE China.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 107 West Yangjiang Rd., Guangzhou 510120, China. xiliyan@pub.guangzhou.gd.cn
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liyan
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Changming
authors.forename: Zhou
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xianyi
authors.forename: Wang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Luxia
authors.forename: Xie
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Suisheng
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009181:Mycoses / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D010407:Penicillium / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents