Dermatologic Manifestations of Aspergillosis Treatment & Management

  • Author: Annie Chiu, MD; Chief Editor: William D James, MD   more...
 
Updated: May 11, 2012
 

Medical Care

In both disseminated and limited cutaneous aspergillosis, high-dose intravenous amphotericin B, in traditional or liposomal form has been the traditional antifungal used to eradicate the underlying organism. However, voriconazole is also approved as a first-line agent for aspergillosis and is being used with increased frequency. Other treatment options for aspergillosis include itraconazole, caspofungin, or voriconazole in combination with terbinafine.[9, 10, 11] Topical voriconazole solution combined with a systemic antifungal has also been reported as effective for secondary cutaneous aspergillosis.[12] For Aspergillus -induced onychomycosis, treatment is with oral itraconazole because topical medications have very limited efficacy in eradicating fungus from the nail.

From a more homeopathic standpoint, a recent study showed in vitro antifungal activity of essential oil of Juniperus communis against A flavus, A fumigatus, and A niger.[13]

In the case of secondary wound infection of the scalp with A niger, treatment with ketoconazole 2% gel and retapamulin ointment resulted in resolution of the nonhealing wound.[5]

Also see the clinical guideline summary, Treatment of Aspergillosis: clinical practice guidelines of the Infectious Diseases Society of America.[14]

The following is a selection of active, recruiting, or completed clinical trials:

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Surgical Care

Several case reports have documented the effectiveness of surgical excision or debridement in the treatment of primary cutaneous aspergillosis. Some of the patients also received concurrent or subsequent systemic antifungal therapy.

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Consultations

  • Consult a dermatologist for diagnosis, excision, and wound care.
  • Consult an infectious diseases specialist for treatment recommendations in the setting of systemic disease.
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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Annie Chiu, MD  Dermatologist, Murad Medical Group

Annie Chiu, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, and Women's Dermatologic Society

Disclosure: Temptu Consulting fee Consulting; Galderma Honoraria Consulting; SkinMedica Honoraria Speaking and teaching

Coauthor(s)

Alexa F Boer Kimball, MD, MPH  Associate Professor of Dermatology, Harvard University School of Medicine; Vice Chair, Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital; Director of Clinical Unit for Research Trials in Skin (CURTIS), Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital

Alexa F Boer Kimball, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, and Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Peter Fritsch, MD  Chair, Department of Dermatology and Venereology, University of Innsbruck, Austria

Peter Fritsch, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Dermatological Association, International Society of Pediatric Dermatology, and Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

David F Butler, MD  Professor of Dermatology, Texas A&M University College of Medicine; Chair, Department of Dermatology, Director, Dermatology Residency Training Program, Scott and White Clinic, Northside Clinic

David F Butler, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Society for MOHS Surgery, Association of Military Dermatologists, and Phi Beta Kappa

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Jeffrey Meffert, MD  Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology, University of Texas School of Medicine at San Antonio

Jeffrey Meffert, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, Association of Military Dermatologists, and Texas Dermatological Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Catherine M Quirk, MD  Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania

Catherine M Quirk, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

William D James, MD  Paul R Gross Professor of Dermatology, Vice-Chairman, Residency Program Director, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

William D James, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology and Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Elsevier Royalty Other

References

  1. Ozer B, Kalaci A, Duran N, Dogramaci Y, Yanat AN. Cutaneous infection caused by Aspergillus terreus. J Med Microbiol. Jul 2009;58:968-70. [Medline].

  2. Zhang QQ, Li L, Zhu M, Zhang CY, Wang JJ. Primary cutaneous aspergillosis due to Aspergillus flavus: a case report. Chin Med J (Engl). Feb 5 2005;118(3):255-7. [Medline].

  3. Mohapatra S, Xess I, Swetha JV, et al. Primary cutaneous aspergillosis due to Aspergillus niger in an immunocompetent patient. Indian J Med Microbiol. Oct-Dec 2009;27(4):367-70. [Medline].

  4. Larkin JA, Greene JN, Sandin RL, Houston SH. Primary cutaneous aspergillosis: case report and review of the literature. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. Jun 1996;17(6):365-6. [Medline].

  5. Robinson A, Fien S, Grassi MA. Nonhealing scalp wound infected with Aspergillus niger in an elderly patient. Cutis. Apr 2011;87(4):197-200. [Medline].

  6. Naidu J, Singh SM. Aspergillus chevalieri (Mangin) Thom and Church: a new opportunistic pathogen of human cutaneous aspergillosis. Mycoses. Jul-Aug 1994;37(7-8):271-4. [Medline].

  7. Kim CW, Seo JS, Kim MK, Jun EJ, Choi JC, Choi BW. Secondary cutaneous aspergillosis disseminated from the lungs of a patient with asthma on 1 month steroid treatment. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. Jan 2010;66(1):104-7. [Medline].

  8. Wheat LJ. Rapid diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis by antigen detection. Transpl Infect Dis. Dec 2003;5(4):158-66. [Medline].

  9. Krishnan-Natesan S, Chandrasekar PH, Manavathu EK, Revankar SG. Successful treatment of primary cutaneous Aspergillus ustus infection with surgical debridement and a combination of voriconazole and terbinafine. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. Dec 2008;62(4):443-6. [Medline].

  10. Cooke FJ, Terpos E, Boyle J, Rahemtulla A, Rogers TR. Disseminated Aspergillus terreus infection arising from cutaneous inoculation treated with caspofungin. Clin Microbiol Infect. Dec 2003;9(12):1238-41. [Medline].

  11. Koss T, Bagheri B, Zeana C, Romagnoli MF, Grossman ME. Amphotericin B-resistant Aspergillus flavus infection successfully treated with caspofungin, a novel antifungal agent. J Am Acad Dermatol. Jun 2002;46(6):945-7. [Medline].

  12. Klein KC, Blackwood RA. Topical voriconazole solution for cutaneous aspergillosis in a pediatric patient after bone marrow transplant. Pediatrics. Aug 2006;118(2):e506-8. [Medline].

  13. Cabral C, Francisco V, Cavaleiro C, et al. Essential Oil of Juniperus communis subsp. alpina (Suter) Celak Needles: Chemical Composition, Antifungal Activity and Cytotoxicity. Phytother Res. Feb 1 2012;[Medline].

  14. [Guideline] Walsh TJ, Anaissie EJ, Denning DW, et al. Treatment of aspergillosis: clinical practice guidelines of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Clin Infect Dis. Feb 1 2008;46(3):327-60. [Medline].

  15. Herbrecht R, Denning DW, Patterson TF, Bennett JE, Greene RE, Oestmann JW, et al. Voriconazole versus amphotericin B for primary therapy of invasive aspergillosis. N Engl J Med. Aug 8 2002;347(6):408-15. [Medline].

  16. Walsh TJ, Raad I, Patterson TF, et al. Treatment of invasive aspergillosis with posaconazole in patients who are refractory to or intolerant of conventional therapy: an externally controlled trial. Clin Infect Dis. Jan 1 2007;44(1):2-12. [Medline].

  17. Elder D, Elenitsas R, Jaworsky C, eds. Lever's Histopathology of the Skin. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott-Raven; 1997:525-6.

  18. Freedberg I, Eisen AZ, Wolff K, et al, eds. Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. 5th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 1999:1436-7.

  19. Odom RB, James WD, Berger TG, eds. Andrews' Diseases of the Skin. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 2000:415.

  20. Richardson MD, Warnock DW, eds. Fungal Infection. In: Diagnosis and Management. 2nd ed. Blackwell Science: Oxford, England; 1997:113-30.

 
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Primary cutaneous aspergillosis at a site of an intravenous catheter in a boy with leukemia.
 
 
 
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