Opportunistic deep cutaneous mycoses in solid organ transplant recipients.

Abstract

Invasive fungal infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality among organ transplant recipients, despite many progresses concerning diagnosis, preventions and treatment. Risk factors for invasive fungal infections in transplanted recipients include type and severity of immunosuppression, especially in life-saving organs as lung or liver, older age at transplantation, and technical complexity of surgery, living in endemic areas or exposure to a contaminated environment. Superficial fungal infections are caused by Candida, Dermatophytes, and Malassezia. In invasive mycoses, skin lesions may occur as a consequence of the systemic dissemination of invasive mycoses, or after direct inoculation in the skin. Aspergillosis, cryptococcosis, Zygomycoses, dark mould infections, fusariosis and infections attributable to Scedosporium and Pseudallescheria species are the most common etiological agents. Cutaneous manifestations of fungal infection are not specific, and a high degree of suspicion is required, and prompt biopsy for histology and culture is needed. Therapy with lyposomal amphotericin B and new triazoles are effective.

• Authors: G Tessari, A Cagalli, G Girolomoni
• Journal: Giornale italiano di dermatologia e venereologia : organo ufficiale, Societa italiana di dermatologia e sifilografia (G Ital Dermatol Venereol) Vol. 149 Issue 4 Pg. 417-22 (Aug 2014) ISSN: 0392-0488 [Print] Italy
• PMID: 25068229 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antifungal Agents
• Immunosuppressive Agents

Topics

• Antifungal Agents (therapeutic use)
• Dermatomycoses (chemically induced, complications, diagnosis, drug therapy, epidemiology)
• Humans
• Immunocompromised Host
• Immunosuppressive Agents (adverse effects)
• Italy (epidemiology)
• Opportunistic Infections (chemically induced, complications, diagnosis, drug therapy, epidemiology)
• Organ Transplantation
• Prevalence
• Risk Factors
• Transplant Recipients