Sporotrichosis Mimicking Cellulitis

Abstract

Sporotrichosis is a cutaneous or systemic fungal infection caused by Sporothrix schenckii. The infection is characterized by nodular, pustular, or ulcerative lesions. Infection usually occurs after traumatic implantation of the fungus into the skin. We report a case presenting first cellulitis and later on as a non-healing ulcer which was diagnosed by punch biopsy as sporotrichosis and managed successfully with itraconazole. A 56-year-old woman admitted to our department with complaint acute onset of swelling of the right lower-extremity with erythema and warmth. The patient was diagnosed initially as celulitis and started on ampicillin-sulbactam. Diagnosis of sporotrichosis was made with histological examination skin biopsy and the patient was started on itraconazole. One month after commencement of antifungal treatment, the ulcer began to dry up and at 3 months the lesions had healed. This case shows that if a wound do not respond to antibiotics in cases with ulcer, some rare etiological agents should be considered.