AI Article Synopsis
- Human pythiosis, an emerging but rare infection caused by the oomycete Pythium insidiosum, often goes unrecognized due to its similarity to other fungal infections and can be life-threatening.
- A reported case involved a patient who contracted skin and soft tissue pythiosis in a New Mexico hot spring, leading to a review of treatment successes and documented cases.
- Out of eleven confirmed cases in North America, most were in children and concentrated in the southern U.S.; however, with prompt and aggressive treatment, better clinical outcomes are possible.
Article Abstract
Background: Human pythiosis, caused primarily by the aquatic oomycete, Pythium insidiosum, is an emerging but uncommon infection in North America. The infection is frequently life-threatening and is often initially unrecognized due to its rarity and similar presentation to certain fungal infections.
Methods: We report a case of skin and soft tissue pythiosis in a patient without significant underlying comorbidities acquired in a New Mexico hot spring and review its successful treatment. We also review all reported pythiosis cases in North America.
Results: Eleven confirmed cases of human pythiosis acquired in North America were identified. The majority of cases occurred in children (64%), ten of eleven cases were acquired in the southern U.S., Mexico, Central America or the Caribbean and four of the eleven individuals succumbed to the infection.
Conclusions: With recognition and aggressive surgical and medical treatment good clinical outcomes can be achieved when treating human pythiosis.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tmaid.2022.102349 | DOI Listing |
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