Primary Cutaneous Dermatosis Due to Alternaria alternata, Case Report in an Immunocompromised Patient

Abstract

Cutaneous alternariosis is an unusual opportunist infection with the complexity of its polymorphous manifestations that oc-cur in circumstances of immunosuppression. We present a case of a 66-year-old female patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus, who had a nephrectomy, who presents a dermatosis of 2 months of evolution, consisting of papules and vesicles that affect the ri-ght cheek and neck. Histopathological study was performed with hematoxylin and eosin stains and Schiff’s periodic acid, myco-logical (direct examination with KOH and cultures) and molecu-lar biology. Diagnosis of Alternaria alternata infection was made based on histopathological, mycological and molecular biology studies. Treatment with itraconazole 200 mg/day and topical ketoconazole was indicated, with resolution at 3 months. Cuta-neous alternariosis is a rare pheohyphomycosis with potentially invasive and fatal implications.