A rare case report: Cutaneous Candida tropicalis infection disguised as a sacral decubitus rash in an immunocompetent individual

• Published in: Journal of infection and public health 2021-08, Vol.14 (8), p.1018-1020
• Main Authors: Sanchez, Asley, Lee, Ben, Gandhi, Kushal, Garza, John, Ventolini, Gary
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Candida tropicalis; Case report; Cutaneous; Infection; Lesion
• ISSN: 1876-0341; 1876-035X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2021.05.013

Candida infection is seen in patients with weak or disrupted host responses. Cutaneous candidiasis typically affects the intertriginous areas and presents with a red plaque surrounded by satellite lesions. Diagnosis of cutaneous candidiasis is made by visual inspection followed by potassium hydroxide normal saline microscopic preparation (wet mount) and polymerase chain reaction identification or culture of fungal organism. The following case describes a 38-year-old patient with limited mobility who presented with a peri sacral lesion that was first assumed to be a decubitus ulcer by nursing facility staff, but proved to be a cutaneous infection by Candida tropicalis, a less common Candida species. The unusual location as well as the characteristic C. tropicalis micro- and macroscopic appearance are described which ultimately led to the diagnosis of a cutaneous fungal infection in an otherwise immunocompetent individual that was resolved with fluconazole therapy. Our case report emphasizes the need for early diagnosis of cutaneous lesions in patients with limited mobility in consideration that not all Candida species thrive in similar environments and can present in unusual locations of the human body. Although rare, C. tropicalis could be found in this vulnerable population.