Is Phaeohyphomycosis an Emerging Fungal Infection in Iran? A Short Communication

Abstract

Introduction: Phaeohyphomycosis is a rare opportunistic fungal infection that can be caused by dematiaceous fungi. The clinical manifestations of this disease are highly diverse and include cutaneous, subcutaneous, and systemic forms. However, the mortality rate of this infection depends on the immune status of patients. Although infections caused by black fungi have been on an increasing trend during the past decade, infections with dematiaceous fungi have rarely been reported in the Middle East. However, some fungal species are associated with a disseminated disease without the known clinical and pathologic risk factors. The analysis of DNA sequence is a highly effective method for differentiating various species among some genera, due to the variable cultural and morphological characteristics of DNA. Despite the presence of therapeutic methods, there are numerous reports regarding the high mortality rate of this infection. Published studies indicate no specific risk factors for phaeohyphomycosis and report the incidence of this disease in immunocompetent individuals. Moreover, selective treatment for these rare infections has not even been defined in clinical studies. However, the clinical syndromes associated with dematiaceous fungi should be considered in the Middle East, Iran.