title: Cutaneous sporotrichosis: a six-year review of 19 cases in a tertiary referral center in Malaysia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sporotrichosis is a subcutaneous fungal infection caused by a thermally dimorphic aerobic fungus, Sporothrix schenckii. It results from traumatic inoculation or contact with animals. Most cases were reported mainly in the tropics and subtropics.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of our study is to assess the clinical characteristic of cutaneous sporotrichosis among our patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective review of all cases diagnosed with cutaneous sporotrichosis from July 2004 to June 2010. Patients' medical records were retrieved and analyzed according to demography, preceding trauma, sites of lesions, clinical subtypes, treatment, and clinical response.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nineteen cases were diagnosed with cutaneous sporotrichosis with a male/female ratio of 9:10. Thirteen cases (68.4%) were able to recall preceding trauma, and seven of them reported cat scratches or cat bites. Lymphocutaneous sporotrichosis was observed in 13 cases (68.4%) followed by four cases of fixed cutaneous sporotrichosis and two cases of disseminated sporotrichosis. Histologically, 11 cases (57.8%) demonstrated a granulomatous reaction. Sporothrix schenckii was cultured in 12 cases (63.2%). Thirteen cases (68.4%) were successfully treated with oral itraconazole alone for a mean duration of 15.6 weeks. Two cases with disseminated cutaneous sporotrichosis were treated with intravenous amphotericin B.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lymphocutaneous sporotrichosis was the most common subtype of cutaneous sporotrichosis in our series, with cat scratches or bites being the most common preceding trauma. Oral itraconazole was highly effective for the localized subtypes, whereas intravenous amphotericin B was required in disseminated cutaneous sporotrichosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Kuala Lumpur Hospital, Jalan Pahang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. minmoon2005@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Min Moon
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Jyh Jong
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Priya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.forename: Choong Chor
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Roshidah
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baba
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000150:complications; D002415:Cats / Q000382:microbiology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017964:Itraconazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013175:Sporothrix / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013174:Sporotrichosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D017964:Itraconazole; D000666:Amphotericin B