Journal of Medical Diagnostic Methods
Open Access

Abstract

Dermatophyte Growth in Glabrous Skin Dermatophytoses of Immuno Compromised Hosts

Gérald E. Piérard, Claudine Piérard-Franchimont, Trinh Hermanns-Lê, Jean-François Hermanns and Philippe Delvenne

Infections remain the most common immediate causes of morbidity in immune compromised hosts. The abated host defences are responsible for an increased susceptibility to various uncommon and opportunistic pathogens, and to a lowered host inflammatory response. Skin lesions develop in up to a third of infections in these patients, and they possibly represent the initial step of a systemic illness. Superficial mycoses are occasionally present under unusual atypical presentations. The resulting clinical infections are at times difficult to diagnose. Some of them are recalcitrant to common conventional therapies. The broad scope of cutaneous manifestations of infections in compromised patients are classified based on four presumed underlying physio-pathologic mechanisms, and on the vast array of potential pathogens so far identified. For mild superficial infections, prompt adequate therapy decreases morbidity and lessens the risk of complications. For more severe involvement, early detection of opportunistic fungal infections helps increasing both the cure and survival rates.