Severe skin and soft tissue pythiosis acquired in a hot spring in the southwestern United States, a case report and review of North American cases
Issued Date
2022-07-01
Resource Type
ISSN
14778939
eISSN
18730442
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85130325358
Pubmed ID
35490949
Journal Title
Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease
Volume
48
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease Vol.48 (2022)
Suggested Citation
Perkins M.J., Rosario D.J., Wickes B.L., Krajaejun T., Sherwood J.E., Mody R.M. Severe skin and soft tissue pythiosis acquired in a hot spring in the southwestern United States, a case report and review of North American cases. Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease Vol.48 (2022). doi:10.1016/j.tmaid.2022.102349 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/85770
Title
Severe skin and soft tissue pythiosis acquired in a hot spring in the southwestern United States, a case report and review of North American cases
Other Contributor(s)
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.