Conjunctival Sporotrichosis in the Absence of Antecedent Trauma

Abstract

PURPOSE: To describe a patient with conjunctivitis. METHODS: Case report and review of the literature. RESULTS: A 34-year-old cattle farmer with no history of trauma developed gradual onset of an inflamed bulbar conjunctival mass associated with ipsilateral preauricular lymphadenopathy. Excisional biopsy of the conjunctival mass and subsequent histopathologic examination revealed suppurative granulomatous inflammation and small budding yeasts. Electron microscopy confirmed the presence of small intracellular and extracellular yeast organisms. Cultures grew the dimorphic fungi Treatment with oral itraconazole and topical fluconazole resulted in complete resolution of the infection. CONCLUSION: characteristically infects the skin and regional lymphatics after penetrating trauma, but atraumatic infection of pulmonary mucosal surfaces can occur upon inhalation of the fungal spores. Our case report suggests that atraumatic exposure to may be sufficient to establish conjunctival infection.