Fungal infection of skin and nails by Hendersonula toruloidea

Abstract

Ten cases of skin and nail infection by Hendersonula toruloidea are described. All the patients were from tropical countries, though some had been in Britain for many years. Infections were confined to the hands and feet, which showed scaling skin and dystrophic nails. Four of the patients presented with these symptoms, the remaining six having presented with other skin conditions. The presence of brown‐walled hyphae in nail tissue and the repeated isolation of H. toruloidea in pure culture are taken as evidence that this species was infecting the tissues. In each of two patients there was evidence of concurrent infection by a ringworm fungus in one of the sites examined.