Oral geotrichosis: report of 12 cases

Abstract

Oral geotrichosis is an uncommonopportunistic infection caused by Geotrichum candidum, a habitual contaminant and component of the flora of various parts of the body. This communication reports both a 20-year retrospective study of clinically and mycologically proven cases of oral geotrichosis, and a prospective study of fungal oral flora in 200 individuals divided into two groups: normal individuals and individuals with associated conditions. Twelve patients with proven oral geotrichosis were included: 9 females and 3 males, with a mean age of 48.5 years; the associated conditions were diabetes mellitus (66.6%), leukemia, Hodgkin's lymphoma and HIV/AIDS infection. The oral geotrichoses showed three clinical varieties: pseudomembranous (75%), hyperplastic, and palatine ulcer. G. candidum was isolated in 11 cases and G. capitatum in one. Positive fungal cultures were obtained from the two groups, and 48% and 78% of cultures were positive, respectively, for Candida spp. In 2.8% and 6.33% of the cases, G. candidum was isolated, respectively, together with one strain of G. capitatum. Oral geotrichosis is an exceptional infection that clinically presents, and is treated, as oral candidiasis. G. candidum may be isolated from the oral flora of a small proportion of patients, either normal individuals or those with associated conditions. (J Oral Sci 52, 477-483, 2010)

Opportunistic yeast infections: candidiasis, cryptococcosis, trichosporonosis and geotrichosis

“…Amphotericin B is indicated for the treatment of deep lesions. In vitro studies have reported a good spectrum with voriconazole; in clinical case studies, the results have varied .…”

Identification of Medically Relevant Species of Arthroconidial Yeasts by Use of Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization–Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry

“…Species of these arthroconidium-forming genera are important, although rare, human pathogens. In healthy humans, they persist as colonizers of the gastrointestinal tract, the oral cavity and respiratory tract, skin, and hair (3,4). Their clinical relevance should not be neglected, as bloodstream infections caused by species of Trichosporon and Geotrichum may occur among cancer patients and immunocompromised individuals (5)(6)(7)(8).…”

Diversity and antifungal resistance patterns of prevalent opportunistic pathogenic yeasts colonizing the oral cavities of asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus-infected individuals, and their relation to CD4 + counts

“…Though rare, various Geotrichum species are found to affect the respiratory tract, skin, oral cavity and also invasive infections, in the immunocompromised host. [8] Probably, this is the first report on the isolation of G. candidum from Indian HIV seropositive individuals.…”

“…[3456] Furthermore, there are other yeasts, previously thought to be nonpathogenic, now gaining importance, especially in the era of HIV/AIDS. [78] In the Indian scenario, only a few reports are available on asymptomatic carriage of yeasts in the oral cavity of HIV seropositive individuals. [345910] Most of these studies are, however, from the southern states of the country.…”