title: Multiple rare opportunistic and pathogenic fungi in persistent foot skin infection.
abstract: Persistent superficial skin infection caused by multiple fungi is rarely reported. Recently, a number of fungi, both opportunistic and persistent in nature were isolated from the foot skin of a 24-year old male in Malaysia. The fungi were identified as Candida parapsilosis, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, Phoma spp., Debaryomyces hansenii, Acremonium spp., Aureobasidium pullulans and Aspergillus spp., This is the first report on these opportunistic strains were co-isolated from a healthy individual who suffered from persistent foot skin infection which was diagnosed as athlete's foot for more than 12 years. Among the isolated fungi, C. parapsilosis has been an increasingly common cause of skin infections. R. mucilaginosa and D. hansenii were rarely reported in cases of skin infection. A. pullulans, an emerging fungal pathogen was also being isolated in this case. Interestingly, it was noted that C. parapsilosis, R. mucilaginosa, D. hansenii and A. pullulans are among the common halophiles and this suggests the association of halotolerant fungi in causing persistent superficial skin infection. This discovery will shed light on future research to explore on effective treatment for inhibition of pathogenic halophiles as well as to understand the interaction of multiple fungi in the progress of skin infection.
authors.affiliation: Nanoporous Materials for Biological Application Research Group (NAMBAR), Sustainability Research Alliance, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Giek Far
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Sivaranjini
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sinniah
authors.forename: Tengku Idzzan Nadzirah Tengku
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Idris
authors.forename: Mohamad Safwan Ahmad
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Puad
authors.forename: Ahmad Zuhairi
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Abd Rahman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005533:Foot Dermatoses / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D005658:Fungi / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology*; D014008:Tinea Pedis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D055815:Young Adult