Sporotrichosis

Last Updated: 2023-07-07

Author(s): Anzengruber F., Navarini A.

ICD11: 1F2J.Z

  • Schenck, 1898
  • Lutz and Splendore, 1907

De Beurmann-Gougerot's disease.

Fungal infection of the cutis and subcutis caused by Sporotrix schenckii.

  • Division:
    • Fixed cutaneous form
    • Lymphocutaneous form
    • Disseminated cutaneous form
    • Extracutaneous disseminated form
    • Note: in the disseminated and extracutaneous form, bones, joints, the lungs, meninges or other visceral organs are usually affected

  • Occurring worldwide, but a rare disease in Europe
  • Current especially in the tropics and subtropics
  • Mexico: most common, deep fungal infection
  • The infection is mainly observed in the rural population
  • Common in immunocompromised individuals (alcohol abuse, diabetes mellitus, COPD, HIV/AIDS)

  • Pathogen: The dimorphic fungus Sporotrix schenckii (Sporotrichon schenckii)
  • Incubation period: days-months
  • The dimorphic soil saprophyte Sporotrix schenckii lives on wood and plants. The pathogen can penetrate through injuries (e.g. during gardening) and goes into the deeper skin layers and lymph nodes/nodes. Aerogenic inoculation or ingestion usually lead to an extracutaneous manifestation (lungs, bones, etc.).
  • Animals can be affected, transmission to humans, like human-to-human transmission, is not possible

  • Erythematous-brownish, mostly asymptomatic linearly arranged, discreetly scaling, partly verrucous, occasionally ulcerating papules, plaques and nodules

  • Clinical, especially the lymphogenic arrangement of the efflorescences is indicative
  • Myco. smear
  • Bact. smear (e.g. secondary impetigisation)
  • Biopsy (both dermatopathological and microbiological work-up (e.g. of a MOTT)) recommended

  • Mostly hands and feet are affected
  • Rarely: Geischt and torso

  • Recurrences are not rare
  • No immunity
  • Rare spontaneous healings

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