sporotrichosis

Etiology

• infection caused by Sporothrix schenckii.

Epidemiology

• occupational hazard for farmers, florists, gardeners, horticulurists & forestry workers
• infection generally caused by cutaneous inoculation (i.e. thorn)
• inhalation of organism may cause pulmonary disease

Clinical manifestations

• papule appears days to weeks later at the site of inoculum
• cutaneous & lymphocutaneous nodules along lymphatic drainage in 75% of patients
• hematogenous dissemination may occur in immunocompromised hosts
• inhalation-induced pulmonary disease may mimick tuberculosis
  • cavitation
  • empyema
• meningitis is uncommon
• monoarthritis

* image

Laboratory

• biopsy
  • synovial biopsy if infectious arthritis suspected
• Sporothrix schenckii antigen in tissue
• Sporothrix schenckii serology
• fungal culture

Management

• cutaneous & lymphocutaneous infection
  • itraconazole (73-90% response rate)
  • ketoconazole
  • flucanazole (71% response rate)
  • terbinafine
  • saturated solution of KI (SSKI)
• disseminated infection (pulmonary & joint): amphotericin B

More general terms

• mycosis; fungal infection

More specific terms

• cutaneous sporotrichosis
• disseminated sporotrichosis

Additional terms

• Sporothrix schenckii