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Diseases A-Z
Sporotrichosis fact sheet
What
is sporotrichosis?
Sporotrichosis is a fungal infection caused by a fungus called Sporothrix
schenckii. It usually infects the skin.
Who
gets sporotrichosis?
Persons handling thorny plants, sphagnum moss, or baled hay are
at increased risk of getting sporotrichosis. Outbreaks have occurred among
nursery workers handling sphagnum moss, rose gardeners, children playing on
baled hay, and greenhouse workers handling bayberry thorns contaminated by
the fugus. A number of cases have recently occurred among nursery workers,
especially workers handling sphagnum moss topiaries.
How
is the fungus spread?
The fungus can be found in sphagnum moss, in hay, in other plant materials,
and in the soil. It enters the skin through small cuts or punctures from thorns,
barbs, pine needles, or wires. It is not spread from person to person.
What
are the symptoms of sporotrichosis?
The first symptom is usually a small painless bump resembling an insect bite.
It can be red, pink or purple in color. The bump (nodule) usually appears on the
finger, hand, or arm where the fungus first enters through the break in the skin.
This is followed by one or more additional bumps or nodules which open and may
resemble boils. Eventually lesions look like open sores (ulcerations) and are very
slow to heal. The infection can spread to other areas of the body.
Does
sporotrichosis involve any other organs besides the skin?
The majority of infections are limited to the skin. Cases of joint, lung, and central nervous
system infection have occurred bu are very rare. Usually they occur only in persons with
previous disorders of the immune system.
How
soon do symptoms appear?
The first nodule may appear any time from 1 to 12 weeks after exposure to the fungus.
Usually the nodules are visible within 3 weeks after the fungus enters the skin.
How
is sporotrichosis diagnosed?
Sporotrichosis can be confirmed when a doctor obtains a swab or a biopsy of a
freshly opened skin nodule and submits it to a laboratory for fungal culture.
If
I have symptoms should I see my doctor?
Yes. It is important for the diagnosis to be confirmed by a doctor so that proper treatment
can be provided.
How
is sporotrichosis treated?
Sporotrichosis is generally treated with potassium iodide, taken by mouth in droplet form.
A new drug, called itraconazole (Sporanox), is available for treatment, but experience
with this drug is still limited. Treatment is often extended over a number of weeks, until the skin lesions are completely healed.
How
can sporotrichosis be prevented?
Control measures include wearing gloves and long sleeves when handline sires, rose
bushes, hay bales, conifer (pine) seedlings, or other materials that may cause minor
skin breaks. It is also advisable to avoid skin contact with sphagnum moss. Moss has been
implicated as a source of the fungus in a number of outbreaks.
Reference
Coles FB, Schuchat A, Hibbs JR, Kondracki SF, Salkin IA, Dixon DM, et al. A multistate
outbreak of sporotrichosis associated with sphagnum moss. American Journal of Epidemiology
1992;136:475-87. NCID Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases.
Source: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/bacter/sporotrichosis.htm
Issued by: The Oregon Health Services
Date: December, 1999;
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