Open AccessCutaneous Protothecosis with Meningitis Due to Prototheca wickerhamii in an Immunocompetent Teenager: Case Report and Literature Review
Author(s) -
Yanfei Lu,
Xiaohui Zhang,
Fang Ni,
Wenying Xia
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
infection and drug resistance
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.033
H-Index - 39
ISSN - 1178-6973
DOI - 10.2147/idr.s320795
Subject(s) - meningitis , biology , immunocompetence , pathogen , dermatology , microbiology and biotechnology , medicine , immunology , surgery , immune system
Human protothecosis is a rare infection caused by Prototheca spp., which are environmental achloric algae ubiquitously existing in nature. Members of the genus of Prototheca usually cause localized infection that affects the skin or wounds. Systemic infection is extremely rare and tends to occur in immunocompromised patients. Here, we report a case of cutaneous protothecosis and meningitis due to Prototheca wickerhamii in an immunocompetent teenager who obtained full-body tattoos at the time of infection. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first description of P. wickerhamii isolated from both skin tissue and cerebrospinal fluid. The data contained in this report will increase our understanding of this pathogen and elucidate the most optimal treatment.