Skin lesions associated with disseminated candidiasis

Characteristic macronodular skin lesions developed in ten patients with disseminated candidiasis. These lesions were present in 13% of patients with this infection. Skin biopsy specimens were obtained from seven of the ten patients and the diagnosis was established in all.Candidaorganisms were cultured from four of six aspirates from skin lesions. The organism was cultured from the blood of nine patients. Hence, although these skin lesions should assist in establishing the diagnosis of disseminated candidiasis, they are seldom present in patients who do not have readily detectable septicemia. (JAMA229:1466-1468, 1974)