Abstract
A 41-year-old man from the emergency department presented with fever for 2 weeks, sore throat, dry cough and generalized umbilicated skin lesions (face (Fig. 1), and chest (Fig. 2)). HIV antibody was positive, CD4+ count was 2/μL. His skin swab, sputum and blood culture all yielded Talaromyces (Penicillium) marneffei (Fig. 3).
Talaromyces marneffei is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in HIV-infected and other immunosuppressed patients who live in or are from endemic areas especially Southeast Asia. Amphotericin B or Itraconazole should be initiated as soon as possible for patients with talaromycosis.
Keywords: Talaromyces marneffei, Infection, HIV
A 41-year-old man admitted from the emergency department, presented with fever for 2 weeks, sore throat, dry cough and generalized umbilicated skin lesions (face (Fig. 1), and chest (Fig. 2)). HIV antibody was positive, CD4+ count was 2 /μL. His skin swab, sputum and blood culture all yielded Talaromyces (Penicillium) marneffei (Fig. 3).
Fig. 1.
Umbilicated skin lesions on the face.
Fig. 2.
Umbilicated skin lesions on the chest.
Fig. 3.
Colonies of Talaromyces (Penicillium) marneffei.
Talaromyces marneffei is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in HIV-infected and other immunosuppressed patients who live in or are from endemic areas especially Southeast Asia [1]. Amphotericin B or Itraconazole should be initiated as soon as possible for patients with talaromycosis [2].
References
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