Phaeohyphomycosis

[Rihanna]

Phaeohyphomycosis refers to infections caused by many kinds of dark, melanin-pigmented dematiaceous fungi. It is distinguished from chromoblastomycosis and mycetoma by the absence of specific histopathologic findings.
(See also Overview of Fungal Infections.)
Phaeohyphomycosis can be caused by many species of dark, melanin-pigmented dematiaceous fungi including Bipolaris, Cladophialophora, Cladosporium, Exophiala, Fonsecaea, Phialophora, Ochronosis, Rhinocladiella, and Wangiella.
Although some species of these fungi may be true pathogens and cause phaeohyphomycosis in immunocompetent patients, pigmented fungi have been increasingly recognized as opportunists; almost all cases of widely disseminated infection occur in immunosuppressed patients. Dematiaceous fungi only rarely cause fatal infections in patients who have intact host defense mechanisms, although certain species may cause brain abscess in immunocompetent patients.
Clinical syndromes include invasive sinusitis, sometimes with bone necrosis, as well as subcutaneous nodules or abscesses, keratitis, lung masses, osteomyelitis, mycotic arthritis, endocarditis, brain abscess, and disseminated infection.