Discuss the characteristics of subcutaneous mycotic infections.

Subcutaneous mycotic infections are caused by a heterogeneous group of fungi and are infections of implantation (inoculated directly into the skin through local trauma). The four most important infections are sporotrichosis, chromomycosis, phaeohyphomycosis, and mycetoma. Lobomycosis and rhinosporidiosis are significantly less common. As a group, these infections involve primarily the skin and subcutaneous tissues and rarely disseminate to produce systemic disease in the immunocompetent host. These organisms are ubiquitous in soil, plants, and trees.

Queiroz-Telles F, McGinnis MR, Salkin R, Graybill JR: Subcutaneous mycoses, Infect Dis Clin North Am 17:59–85, 2003