Case of dermatophyte abscess caused by Trichophyton rubrum: a case report and review of the literature

• Published in: Mycoses Vol. 58; no. 5; pp. 318 - 323
• Main Authors: Inaoki, Makoto, Nishijima, Chihiro, Miyake, Miho, Asaka, Toshiyuki, Hasegawa, Youichi, Anzawa, Kazushi, Mochizuki, Takashi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany 01.05.2015
• Subjects: Abscess; Abscess - drug therapy; Abscess - microbiology; Administration, Oral; Antifungal Agents - therapeutic use; Biopsy; dermatophytosis; dermis; Humans; Immunocompetence; Leg; Male; Middle Aged; Naphthalenes - therapeutic use; Onychomycosis - microbiology; Skin - microbiology; terbinafine; Tinea - drug therapy; Tinea - microbiology; Trichophyton - isolation & purification; Trichophyton - ultrastructure; Trichophyton rubrum; Trichophyton rubrum; dermatophytosis; terbinafine; Abscess; dermis
• ISSN: 0933-7407; 1439-0507
• DOI: 10.1111/myc.12317

Summary A 54‐year‐old Japanese man without apparent immunosuppression presented with nodules with purulent drainage on the right lower leg. He had ringworm of the right leg and tinea unguium. A biopsy specimen of the nodule showed intradermal abscesses with fungal elements, and Trichophyton rubrum was cultured from both the pus and the biopsy specimen. Treatment with oral terbinafine resolved the nodules. Dermatophyte abscess is a rare, deep and invasive dermatophytosis, which is often associated with immunocompromised conditions. We provide a review of the literature including Japanese cases.