Scopulariopsis brevicaulis as the cause of dermatomycosis.

Scopulariopsis (S.) brevicaulis (Saccardo) Bainier 1907 is a ubiquitous fungus frequently isolated as a saprophyte from various layers of the soil, wood, straw, paper, food, and occasionally in animals and humans. This nondermatophyte filamentous fungus is multiresistant and is frequently associated with onychomycosis in humans. In the last two decades, the number of reports on its pathogenic role in different localized and disseminated infections has been on an increase. Identification was done by native KOH microscopy and culture on the Mycobios selective agar (Biolife). From January 1, 2002 till January 23, 2008, a total of 7161 samples were examined by use of mycology methods; S. brevicaulis accounted for 39 (2.2%) of 1834 (25.6%) positive samples. During the study period, S. brevicaulis was isolated from nail, skin and scalp scrapings of 39 patients (17 male and 22 female), mean age ( SD) 43.920.7 (range 8-87) years. Specimens were most frequently obtained from the foot (n=16; 41%), i.e. great toe nail in 10 and other foot areas in 6 cases, followed by palm and fingers in 8 (20.5%), scalp in 3 (7.7%) and other parts of the body in 12 (30.8%) cases. Most of the study subjects lived in a rural setting (n=22; 56%), working as farmers in close contact with the soil and domestic animals. Seventeen (44%) subjects were from urban setting (n=9) or unknown place of residence (n=8). Underlying risk factors were present in 29 (74%) of 39 study subjects, some of them with multiple risk factors. Besides close contact with the soil, the most common predisposing factors were various dermatoses (atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, dysseborrhea, etc.), lower extremity circulatory insufficiency, trauma, microtrauma, and metabolic disorders. Although the clinical picture of onychomycosis caused by S. brevicaulis shows some specific features, timely sampling for mycology is crucial to verify the diagnosis and to identify the causative agent prior to the introduction of appropriate therapy for dermatomycosis.

Colonization of venous leg ulcers by microorganisms.

The aim of the study was to identify the microorganisms that most commonly colonize leg ulcers. The study included 70 patients of both sexes, aged 31-85 years. There were 49 (70%) female and 21 (30%) male patients, mean age 69.16 and 61.62 years, respectively. Nineteen different types of microorganisms were isolated in study patients: one in 18, two in 38, and three pathogens in 13 patients. Only one of study patients had four microorganisms isolated at the time. The most common microorganisms were Pseudomonas aeruginosa found in 25 and Streptococcus aureus in 19 patients.

Characteristics of dermatophytoses in children treated at the Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Dr Josip Bencevic General Hospital, Slavonski Brod, Croatia, from February 1993 till February 2000.

Dermatophytoses are common infections in children. During the period from February 1993 till February 2000, 308 children with dermatophytoses were examined at the Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Dr.Josip Bencevic General Hospital, Slavonski Brod, Croatia. Out of these 308 pediatric patients, there were 157 (50.97%) male and 151 (49.03%) female children aged 3 months to 15 years. Microsporum spp. infection was detected in 251 (81.49%) and Trichophyton spp. infection in 57 (18.51%) cases. The epidemiology of the infection was analyzed according to age, sex, and seasonal progression