Phaeohyphomycosis, an emerging opportunistic fungal infection

Phaeohyphomycosis comprises a group of infections caused by black pigmented or dematiaceous fungi. In the last two decades the frequency of reporting and diversity of etiologic agents involved have increased, especially in immunosuppressed individuals. The main genera involved include Alternaria, Bipolaris, Cladophialophora and Exophiala. These fungi are typically found in the soil and introduced through inhalation or trauma. The spectrum of associated diseases also has broadened and includes superficial and deep cutaneous infections, allergic disease, pneumonia, brain abscess and disseminated infection. The laboratory diagnosis is based on the morphological characteristics of the agents as observed by direct microscopic examination and histopathology. Treatment is often challenging and depends upon Este trabajo cumple con las siguientes caracteristicas editoriales Fecha correspondencia: Recibido: marzo 13 de 2015. Revisado: febrero 1 de 2016. Aceptado: febrero 16 de 2016. Forma de citar: Gomez LV, Cardona-Castro N. Feohifomicosis, una infeccion fungica oportunista emergente. Rev CES Med 2016. 30(1): 66-77. Open access © Derecho de autor Licencia creative commons Etica de publicaciones Revision por pares Gestion por Open Journal System ISSN 0120-8705 ISSN-e 2215-9177 Revision de tema Feohifomicosis, una infeccion fungica oportunista emergente Phaeohyphomycosis, an emerging opportunistic fungal infection Lina Vanessa Gomez1 CvLAC, Nora Cardona-Castro2 CvLAC 1. Medica, residente de Dermatologia, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Medellin, Colombia. 2. Medica, MSc, PhD. Profesora titular, Instituto Colombiano de Medicina Tropical, Universidad CES, Medellin, Colombia.