title: Black yeast-like fungi in skin and nail: it probably matters.
abstract: Black yeast-like fungi are rarely reported from superficial infections. We noticed a consistent prevalence of these organisms as single isolations from mycological routine specimens. To investigate the prevalence of black yeast-like fungi in skin, hair and nail specimens and to discuss the probability of these species to be involved in disease. Slow-growing black yeast-like fungi in routine specimens were prospectively collected and identified. A questionnaire regarding patient information was sent to physicians regarding black yeast-like fungus positive patients. A total of 20,746 dermatological specimens were examined by culture. Black yeast-like fungi accounted for 2.2% (n=108) of the positive cultures. Only 31.0% of the samples, culture positive for black yeast-like fungi were direct microscopy positive when compared with overall 68.8% of the culture positive specimens. The most prevalent species were Phialophora europaea (n=29), Coniosporium epidermidis (n=12), Ochroconis cf. humicola (n=6) and Cladophialophora boppii (n=4). These are not common saprobes and thus less likely to be coincidental colonizers. In 10/30 cases, discolouration of nail/skin had been noticed. A limited number of black yeast-like fungi were repeatedly isolated from routine specimens suggesting that they may play a role in superficial infections or as colonizers.
authors: Unit of Mycology and Parasitology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark. ditte@saunte.com
authors: D M
authors: DM
authors: Saunte
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Tarazooie
authors: M C
authors: MC
authors: Arendrup
authors: G S
authors: GS
authors: de Hoog
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001203:Ascomycota / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005533:Foot Dermatoses / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D003904:Mitosporic Fungi / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016533:Mycological Typing Techniques; D009262:Nails / Q000382:microbiology*; D014009:Onychomycosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015003:Yeasts / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*