Good response in a patient with deep-seated subcutaneous ulcer due to Candida species

Abstract

Deep-seated subcutaneous ulcers infected with Candida species are rare. We are reporting a 51-year-old Cantonese woman who had a large, deep-seated subcutaneous ulcer on her right shoulder for more than a year. Direct smears of the purulent extrusion revealed many pseudohyphae and yeast cells. Candida species were isolated from the purulent extrusion and further identified as Candida albicans and C. parapsilosis. A skin lesion biopsy contained yeast cells and pseudohyphae. C. parapsilosis were once isolated from the biopsy specimen. Total healing was obtained with itraconazole (200 mg twice daily for 16 days and then 100 mg twice daily for 14 days) combined with phototherapy.