Cystic Subcutaneous Phaeohyphomycosis Caused by Cladophialophora Species in an Elderly Leprosy Patient

Phaeoid (dematiaceous) fungi are a diverse group of species characterized by their production of the pigment dihydroxynaphthalene melanin. Although phaeoid fungi do not usually cause human infections, they are commonly found in nature as contaminants. These fungi are present in decomposing vegetation, rotting timber, and soil. However, an increase in infections is probably due to the increase in the population of individuals with compromised immune systems. An elderly female patient from the southernmost part of India, who was previously treated for leprosy, presented with multiple boggy swellings in her right hand. An appropriate sample was collected under aseptic precautions and subjected to microbiological analysis, which led to the isolation of Cladophialophora species. The patient was treated with antifungal drugs, but her condition worsened, resulting in a poor outcome.