Black Mold: A Case Presentation and Discussion of Cutaneous Stachybotrys chartarum Infection

Stachybotrys chartarum, also known as black mold, is a type of indoor fungus that grows in areas of high moisture and humidity. At high rates of growth, the fungus can produce mycotoxins that become airborne and inhaled. More often than not, inhalation of significant amounts of black mold causes pulmonary mycotoxicosis. Here we present a case of a cutaneous black mold infection of the scalp in an 80-year-old male with no history of pulmonary mycotoxicosis with Stachybotrys chartarum. This case is presented because it illustrates the rare incidence of Stachybotrys chartarum in the context of a cutaneous infection rather than pulmonary mycotoxicosis. This type of fungus is difficult to culture and takes time to grow. It is important for physicians to be aware of its potential occurrence in patients with cutaneous infections because treatment is much more rigorous than that of simple bacterial skin infections. Recognition of this fungal growth early on can help patients get treated with the necessary medications before extensive spread of the mold can occur.