Chromoblastomycosis is a chronic fungal infection in which there are raised crustedlesions affecting the skin and subcutaneous tissue. It usually affects the limbs.
Chromoblastomycosis
Chromoblastomycosis
Chromoblastomycosis
What causes chromoblastomycosis?
Chromoblastomycosis may be due to several fungi found in soil, wood and decaying plant material.
The organism is inoculated into the skin by a minor injury, for example, a cut with a splinter when barefoot. It is exceedingly rare in New Zealand, but relatively common in warmer areas such as the Pacific Islands.
Histopathology of chromoblastomycosis may show typical thick-walled dark-brown 'sclerotic' cells on skin biopsy confirming the presence of a dematiaceous fungus. It is dark coloured due to melanin in the walls of the organism.
Culture in Sabouraud medium with antibiotics at 25–30 degrees celsius grows olive-green to black fungal colonies after one or two weeks. Naming the responsible fungus can be difficult. Phaeohyphomycosis is the name given to an infection caused by dematiaceous fungi.
Figure 4
What is the treatment for chromoblastomycosis?
Rarely, chromoblastomycosis resolves spontaneously leaving a scar.
Treatment is difficult and prolonged. It may include:
