title: Successful treatment of cutaneous protothecosis with liposomal amphotericin and oral itraconazole.
abstract: Protothecosis is a rare algal infection, affecting primarily immunocompromised hosts. Optimal management is unclear: in-vitro antimicrobial breakpoints are not established and therapeutic decisions are primarily based on case reports. We present a case of cutaneous Prototheca wickerhamii infection in an immunosuppressed 63 year old male, successfully treated with liposomal amphotericin and prolonged itraconazole. Inoculation may have been through frequent hot-tub use, highlighting hot-tub exposure as an infection risk for the immunocompromised host.
authors.affiliation: Sydney Children's Hospital, Sydney 2031, Australia.
authors.forename: Brendan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: McMullan
authors.affiliation: Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pollett
authors.affiliation: Westmead Millenium Institute, Sydney 2145, Australia.
authors.forename: Chayanika
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Biswas
authors.affiliation: Westmead Hospital, Sydney 2145, Australia.
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Packham
keywords: Cutaneous; Itraconazole; Liposomal amphotericin; Prototheca wickerhamii; Protothecosis