Successful treatment of cutaneous protothecosis with fluconazole: A case report and epidemiology study of Prototheca infection in China

Chandi Xu; Chaolan Pan; Chengan Xu; Wei Zheng; Qiaoqiao Yin; Hongying Pan; Yingjun Chen

doi:10.1111/jocd.16272

Successful treatment of cutaneous protothecosis with fluconazole: A case report and epidemiology study of Prototheca infection in China

J Cosmet Dermatol. 2024 Mar 13. doi: 10.1111/jocd.16272. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Chandi Xu¹, Chaolan Pan², Chengan Xu³, Wei Zheng³, Qiaoqiao Yin³, Hongying Pan³, Yingjun Chen¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Infectious Diseases, People's Hospital of Tiantai County, Taizhou, Zhejiang, China.
² Department of Dermatology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
³ Center for General Practice Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.

PMID: 38481059
DOI: 10.1111/jocd.16272

Abstract

Background: Protothecosis is an infection of humans and animals caused by a rare conditionally pathogenic fungus (prototheca). It can occur in immunocompromised or normal patients.

Aims: To describe the epidemiology of prototheca infection in China.

Methods: We report a case of successful treatment of cutaneous protothecosis with fluconazole and analyzed the epidemiological characteristics, risk factors, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of prototheca infections in China.

Results: We describe this case and 29 cases of prototheca infections in China. At present, Prototheca wickerhamii (Pw) infection is the most common infection in China, and single or combined itraconazole is the preferred treatment.

Conclusions: These results provide detailed information and relevant clinical treatment strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of protothecosis in China.

Keywords: Prototheca; antifungals; epidemiology; protothecosis.