Botryomycosis
See also in: Cellulitis DDxAlerts and Notices
Synopsis
Two-thirds of patients have skin involvement. Lesions develop slowly over weeks and months. These patients usually have no systemic symptoms, although local pain and pruritus may occur. A visceral form (usually involving the lungs but sometimes disseminating to the kidneys, liver, or nodes) may rarely occur. Visceral forms may be primary or may occur as a result of cutaneous extension.
Approximately 40% of cases of botryomycosis are due to Staphylococcus aureus, with Pseudomonas spp. causing another 20% of cases. Other reported causative bacteria include Proteus, Moraxella, Serratia, Escherichia coli, Corynebacteria, and streptococci.
Disease is reported worldwide. A history of local injury is common. Patients with low T-cell counts are predisposed to developing botryomycosis, as are patients with alcoholic liver disease, diabetes, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), cystic fibrosis, hyper-IgE syndrome, and those on chronic corticosteroids. It rarely occurs in healthy individuals. The pathogenesis most likely represents an interaction between bacterial load, the organism's virulence, and the host's immunity.
Codes
ICD10CM:B48.8 – Other specified mycoses
SNOMEDCT:
238413001 – Botryomycosis
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Last Reviewed:01/07/2019
Last Updated:01/07/2019
Last Updated:01/07/2019