Microbiology
A yeast, includes T. asahii, T. beigelii, T. inkin, T. mucoides, T. ovoides, and many others.
Epidemiologic Risks
Some are human flora, most are in the soil.
Syndromes
T. asteroides and T cutaneum: superficial infections.
T. beigelii and others disseminated disease in severely immunocompetent patients (PubMed). This review has that I think is the oddest typo and suggests that the editor was either drunk or lazy as they have substituted the word 'homeopathy' for, I think, neutropenia or leukemia. Makes for a weird read: "Dissemination is a common feature, particularly in patients with homeopathy and newborns (100% of the cases)."
White piedra (or tinea blanca): white, flaky hair infection.
Treatment
For the rare disseminated disease, voriconazole (Review). Plus debridement and catheter removal as needed.
Notes
Intrinsic resistance to the echinocandins and may be a cause of breakthrough fungemias on this agent.
It can cause a positive serum Cryptococcus antigen assay and β-D-glucan, but not always.
Last Update: 04/26/18.