[Sporotrichosis: prevalence, clinical and epidemiological features in a reference center in Colombia]

Abstract

Background: Sporotrichosis is a subacute and chronic infection caused by Sporothrix schenckii, which affects humans and other mammals. Clinical and epidemiological information in Colombia is scarce.

Objective: To describe clinical and socio-demographic findings and diagnostic tests in patients with sporotrichosis from 1996 to 2005 in a national reference center in Colombia, and to determine the institutional prevalence from 2002 to 2005.

Material and methods: This was a prevalence study, including patients with clinical diagnosis of sporotrichosis and at least one of the following criteria: positive culture with S. schenckii, pathologic diagnosis suggestive of sporotrichosis, or response to treatment with potassium iodide.

Results: Sixty cases were included, 67% were male, and 25% of them were farmers. The most affected anatomical areas were the forearms and hands (32.5% and 22.8% respectively). Most cases came from the Cundinamarca and Boyacá areas. The cases presented as fixed cutaneous sporotrichosis and lymphangitic sporotrichosis. Differential diagnoses with: leishmaniasis and chromoblastomycosis were performed in most of the cases. All patients were treated with potassium iodide. The prevalence for our center from 2002 to 2005 was 8 cases per 100,000 patients.

Conclusions: The characteristics of our patients are similar to those described in other populations, with some differences. The culture continues to be the gold standard for diagnosis purposes. Potassium iodide is the treatment of choice in our center.