Cutaneous expression of systemic candidiasis in immunosuppressed patients

Systemic candidiasis is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in immunosuppressed hospitalized patients. Skin signs of systemic candidiasis are numerous although they can be observed in a small percentage of patients. We report five cases of systemic candidiasis with cutaneous manifestations in immunosuppressed patients: one case of bone marrow transplantation, two patients with acute myeloid leukaemia, one with bacterial sepsis and one patient with lymphocytic lymphoma. The patients presented persistent fever and cutaneous lesions. Skin biopsy for histopathological study and cultures were carried out. The histological examination showed yeasts in three of the cases. Skin culture revealed: Candida tropicalis, Candida krusei and Candida albicans in two cases. Due to the increase number of resistant species new drugs such as echinocandins are currently available for the treatment of this entity (Dermatol Argent 2010;16(5):337-343).