Silva BC, Paula CR, Yoshioka MC, Nunes RS, Castro LG, Santos JI, Gambale W; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 2002 Jul 7-12; 14: abstract no. B10255.
USP, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Individuals infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are prone to opportunistic infections. In addition, numerous HIV-positive patients also present cutaneous mycoses caused by filamentous fungi or yeasts, particularly dermatophytes and species of Candida genus. In these patients, the clinical and diagnostic follow-up of these mycosis is difficult because of the atypical aspect of lesions which are usually exuberant and extensive. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of cutaneous mycoses in HIV-positive patients, as well as to identify the fungal species involved. Clinical specimens were obtained from skin, hair and nails of 84 HIV-positive patients displaying cutaneous mycosis and who have sought the Center for Reference and Training in STD/AIDS or the Sao Paulo University Hospital. The collected specimens were examined under microscope after clarification with potassium hydroxide. They were also inoculated on Sabouraud dextrose agar slants, with and without cycloheximide. The agar slants were incubated at room temperature for up to three weeks. Of the 84 patients evaluated, 54 (64.3%) presented fungal infections of the skin, hair or fingernails. The most common isolated fungi were Trichophyton rubrum (35.7%) and Candida spp. (22.6%). The mean age of infected patients was 38 years (range 15-60 years), with no particular risk factor. Conversely, control samples obtained after four weeks of specific antifungal therapy revealed a relationship between the persistance of the mycose and an CD4 cell count below 350/mL. This our study confirm previous works which report the common occurrence of yeasts of the genus Candida and of the dermatophyte T. rubrum in cutaneous mycoses of HIV-positive patients. We also want to emphatise the importance of the immunodeficiency on the exacerbation of the clinical signs and on the chronicity of these mycosis.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Arthrodermataceae
- Brazil
- Candida
- Candidiasis
- Dermatomycoses
- Fungi
- HIV
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Hair
- Humans
- Mycoses
- Nails
- Skin
- Trichophyton
- Yeasts
Other ID:
UI: 102251177
From Meeting Abstracts