About all

Infections from thorns: Sporotrichosis Basics

by alexxlab

Sporotrichosis Basics

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

  • Sporotrichosis Overview
  • Causes of Sporotrichosis
  • Symptoms of Sporotrichosis
  • When to Seek Medical Care for Sporotrichosis
  • Exams and Tests for Sporotrichosis
  • Sporotrichosis Care at Home
  • Medical Treatment for Sporotrichosis
  • Follow-up Care for Sporotrichosis
  • Sporotrichosis Prevention
  • Outlook for Sporotrichosis
  • More

Sporotrichosis is an infection of the skin caused by a fungus, Sporothrix schenckii. This fungus is related more closely to the mold on stale bread or the yeast used to brew beer than to bacteria that usually cause infections. The mold is found on rose thorns, hay, sphagnum moss, twigs, and soil. The infection is more common among gardeners, nursery workers, and farmers who work with roses, moss, hay, and soil.

Once the mold spores move into the skin, the disease takes days or even months to develop.

Sporotrichosis usually begins when mold spores are forced under the skin by a rose thorn or sharp stick, although the infection can begin in apparently unbroken skin after contact with hay or moss carrying the mold.

More rarely, cats or armadillos can transmit the disease.

In rare cases, the fungus can be inhaled or ingested, causing infection in parts of the body other than the skin.

Sporotrichosis does not appear to be transmitted from person to person.

The first symptom of sporotrichosis is a firm bump (nodule) on the skin that can range in color from pink to nearly purple. The nodule is usually painless or only mildly tender. Over time, the nodule may develop an open sore (ulcer) that may drain clear fluid. Untreated, the nodule and the ulcer become chronic and may remain unchanged for years.

In about 60% of cases, the mold spreads along the lymph nodes. Over time, new nodules and ulcers spread in a line up the infected arm or leg. These can also last for years.

In very rare cases, the infection can spread to other parts of the body, such as the bones, joints, lungs, and brain. This is more common among those with a weakened immune system. It can be difficult to treat and may be life threatening.

When to call the doctor

  • If you think you might have sporotrichosis, see a doctor about diagnosis and treatment.
  • If you are already being treated for sporotrichosis, contact a doctor if new sores develop or if the old ones appear to be growing.

When to go to the hospital

  • Sporotrichosis in the skin or lymph nodes should not be dangerous or life threatening.
  • Open ulcers can become infected with bacteria and may cause a condition known as cellulitis.
  • If a rapidly expanding area of redness, pain, and warmth around the original ulcers develops, you should go to your local emergency room.

Other infections can mimic sporotrichosis, so a doctor performs tests to confirm the diagnosis. The tests for sporotrichosis usually involve a biopsy of one of the nodules, followed by an exam of the biopsy sample under a microscope to identify the mold. Other possible infections might include:

  • Bacteria related to tuberculosis or leprosy
  • Cowpox
  • Herpes
  • Other fungi and bacteria
  • Noninfectious diseases such as lupus

No effective home care for sporotrichosis is known. Ulcers should be kept clean and covered until they are healed.

Treatment of sporotrichosis depends on the site infected.

  • Infections in the skin only: These sporotrichosis infections have traditionally been treated with a supersaturated potassium iodide solution. This medicine is given three times per day for three to six months until all the lesions have gone away. Skin infections may also be treated with itraconazole (Sporanox) for up to six months. Also, heat therapy (pocket warmer for one- two hours daily) creates higher tissue temperature to inhibit fungus growth, allowing the immune system to fight the fungus.
  • Sporotrichosis infection in the bones and joints: These infections are much more difficult to treat and rarely respond to potassium iodide. Itraconazole (Sporanox) is often used as an initial medication for several months or even up to a year. Amphotericin is also used, but this drug can only be given through an IV. Amphotericin has more side effects and may need to be administered for many months. Surgery is sometimes needed to remove infected bone.
  • Infection in the lungs: Lung infections are treated with amphotericin,itraconazole (Sporanox), and potassium iodide with varying amounts of success. Sometimes, the infected areas of the lung have to be removed.
  • Infection in the brain: Sporotrichosis meningitis is rare, so information on treatment is not readily available. Amphotericin plus 5-fluorocytosine is generally recommended, but itraconazole (Sporanox) might also be tried.

Multiple follow-up visits may be needed with a doctor to make sure sporotrichosis is disappearing. Once the disease goes away, further follow-up care is generally not needed.

The most important step in preventing sporotrichosis is preventing mold spores from entering the skin.

People who work with roses, hay, or sphagnum moss should cover any scratches or breaks in their skin. They should also wear heavy boots and gloves to prevent puncture wounds.

Most people who have sporotrichosis only in their skin or lymph nodes make a full recovery.

Treating a sporotrichosis infection may take several months or years, and scars may remain at the site of the original infection.

Infections involving the brain, lungs, joints, or other areas of the body are much more difficult to treat.

Top Picks

Sporotrichosis | Fungal Diseases | CDC

What is sporotrichosis?

Sporotrichosis (also known as “rose gardener’s disease”) is an infection caused by a fungus called Sporothrix. This fungus lives throughout the world in soil and on plant matter such as sphagnum moss, rose bushes, and hay.1,2 People get sporotrichosis by coming in contact with the fungal spores in the environment. Cutaneous (skin) infection is the most common form of the infection. It occurs when the fungus enters the skin through a small cut or scrape, usually after someone touches contaminated plant matter. Skin on the hands or arms is most commonly affected.

Types of sporotrichosis
  • Cutaneous (skin) sporotrichosis is the most common form of the infection. It usually occurs on a person’s hand or the arm after touching contaminated plant matter.
  • Pulmonary (lung) sporotrichosis is rare but can happen after someone breathes in fungal spores from the environment.
  • Disseminated sporotrichosis occurs when the infection spreads to another part of the body, such as bones, joints, or central nervous system. This form of sporotrichosis usually affects people with health problems or who take medicines that lower the body’s ability to fight germs and sickness, such as people living with HIV (see Risk & Prevention).

Medical illustration of Sporothrix schenckii.

Sporotrichosis has been caused by scratches or bites from animals, particularly cats. Learn more about Sporothrix brasiliensis, a fungus that cats are spreading in Brazil and other areas of South America.

Symptoms

The symptoms of sporotrichosis depend on where the fungus is growing in the body. Contact your healthcare provider if you have symptoms that you think are related to sporotrichosis.

Sporotrichosis usually affects the skin or tissues underneath the skin. The first symptom of cutaneous (skin) sporotrichosis is usually a small, painless bump that can develop any time from 1 to 12 weeks after exposure to the fungus. The bump can be red, pink, or purple, and usually appears on the finger, hand, or arm where the fungus has entered through a break in the skin. The bump will eventually grow larger and may look like an open sore or ulcer that is very slow to heal. Additional bumps or sores may appear later near the original one.

Pulmonary (lung) sporotrichosis is rare. Symptoms include cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, and fever.

Symptoms of disseminated sporotrichosis depend on the body part affected. For example, infection of the joints can cause joint pain that may be confused with rheumatoid arthritis. Infections of the central nervous system can involve difficulty thinking, headache, and seizures.

Top of Page

Risk & Prevention

Who gets sporotrichosis?

People who touch plant matter such as sphagnum moss, rose bushes, or hay are more likely to become infected. For example, sporotrichosis outbreaks have occurred among forestry workers, people who work in tree nurseries and garden centers, and people who handle hay bales.

The severe forms of sporotrichosis (those that affect the lungs, bones or joints, or central nervous system) usually affect people with weakened immune systems or other diseases including diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), alcoholism, or HIV. 1,3,4

How can I lower the chance of developing sporotrichosis?

You can lower the chance of getting sporotrichosis by wearing protective clothing such as gloves and long sleeves when touching plant matter that can cause minor cuts or scrapes.

In Brazil, people have gotten sporotrichosis from contact with cats. This form of sporotrichosis (Sporothrix brasiliensis) has not been found in the United States. Be careful with unfamiliar animals, particularly cats. Cat bites and scratches can spread the fungus that causes sporotrichosis, and other diseases. This fungus is most often spread by stray cats and pet cats that are allowed outdoors. Learn more about sporotrichosis from cats.

Top of Page

Where Sporotrichosis Comes From

Sporotrichosis is often linked to sphagnum moss, rose bushes, hay, or animal scratches or bites.

The fungus that causes sporotrichosis lives in the environment. 

Sporothrix, the fungus that causes sporotrichosis, lives in the environment in soil and on plant matter such as sphagnum moss, rose bushes, hay, or wood. The microscopic fungus can enter the skin through small cuts or scrapes. In rare cases, breathing in the fungus can cause a pulmonary (lung) infection. The type of sporotrichosis found in North America is not contagious and can’t spread from person to person. However, in South America, a type of sporotrichosis caused by Sporothrix brasiliensis spreads through scratches or bites from animals, particularly cats. (This fungal illness is not cat-scratch disease, a bacterial illness spread by cats – which occurs worldwide, wherever cats live.)

Top of Page

Diagnosis & Testing

Your healthcare provider will take a small tissue sample (biopsy) of the infected area of the body for laboratory tests. The laboratory will usually perform a fungal culture to find out what is causing the infection. Blood tests can help diagnose severe sporotrichosis, but usually can’t diagnose skin infections.

Top of Page

Treatment

Most cases of sporotrichosis only involve the skin or the tissues underneath the skin. These infections are not life-threatening, but must be treated with prescription antifungal medicine for several months. The most common treatment for this type of sporotrichosis is itraconazole, taken by mouth for 3 to 6 months. Supersaturated potassium iodide (SSKI) is another treatment option for skin sporotrichosis. SSKI and azole drugs like itraconazole should not be used if you are pregnant.

If you have severe sporotrichosis that affects your lungs, bones, joints, or central nervous system, you’ll probably receive intravenous amphotericin B medicine, which is given through a vein. After the first treatment with amphotericin B, you may receive itraconazole by mouth, for a total of at least 1 year of antifungal treatment. People with sporotrichosis in the lungs may also need surgery to cut away the infected tissue.

Healthcare providers: For detailed treatment guidelines, please refer to the Infectious Diseases Society of America’s Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Sporotrichosisexternal icon.

Top of Page

Statistics

Diagnosed sporotrichosis is rare, but the number of cases is difficult to determine because there is no national surveillance for it in the United States. Population-based incidence estimates for sporotrichosis were obtained from laboratory surveillance in the San Francisco Bay Area during 1992–1993 and suggested a yearly rate of less than one case per 1 million population.5 However, more mild infections may not be diagnosed. Sporotrichosis may be more common in other parts of the world, such as Latin America.2 For example, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, more than 2,200 cases were reported during 1998–2009.6 Another study suggested a rate of 48 to 60 sporotrichosis cases per 100,000 population in the south central highlands of Peru.7

Sporotrichosis outbreaks

In the United States, sporotrichosis outbreaks have occurred among people who touched sphagnum moss or hay, such as forestry workers,8,9 tree nursery and garden center workers,10-12 and people who worked with or played on hay bales. 13-16 Sporotrichosis outbreaks also have been reported in several other countries, including Australia, Brazil, China, Guatemala, and South Africa.2 Healthcare providers who are concerned about an unusual number of new cases should contact their state or local public health agency.

An ongoing outbreak of sporotrichosis is occurring in some cities in Brazil, where the infection has become common in outdoor cats and can spread to humans through bites or scratches. Learn more about this problem.

Top of Page

Top of Page

Heel spur – description, causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

Heel spur is a tendon ossification, which is the result of an inflammatory process that affects the soft tissue of the heel tubercle. Such inflammation is associated with a large number of pathologies that provoke the growth of bone tissue and affect fiber. The size of the growth that occurs in the heel is different, and its external appearance is similar to spikes or a beak.

Currently, heel spurs are detected quite often. Most often it is observed in women who have crossed the line of 50 years. But this does not mean that the spur cannot occur in persons of the opposite sex at a younger age.

If the disease is at an early stage, there are no problems with treatment. The opposite situation develops with a running spur – the treatment is long and complicated. It is noteworthy that in elderly patients, the spur appears in 25% of cases.

Causes of appearance

A spur is formed in the heel for several reasons. This includes both congenital and acquired factors throughout life, for example:

  • overweight, which causes a strong load on the legs;
  • flat feet and other problems associated with improper walking;
  • infections occurring in the human body;
  • malcirculation;
  • atherosclerosis;
  • diabetes mellitus of all types;
  • heel fat shrinkage in the elderly;
  • rheumatism;
  • diseases affecting nerve endings;
  • fractures or bruises of the heels;
  • inflammatory processes in the muscles or their stretching;
  • natural changes associated with aging;
  • pathology of the spine;
  • Excessive stress on the heels caused by sports.

In order to save a person from an unpleasant pathology, it is necessary to conduct a complete examination of the body and understand the cause that provoked the appearance of a spur. If the problem is left unattended, then the tendons will begin to tear. This will lead to an inflammatory process that will spread to the muscles and heel tubercle. A liquid will appear in the indicated place, interfering with blood circulation and slowing down healing. In the heel, salt deposits form and a growth is formed – a spur.

Manifestation of a spur in the heel

The symptomatology of the problem under consideration does not depend on the cause that caused it. It is formed by the location and size of the spur. In addition, the stage of development of pathology also has an impact.

Initially, the spur makes itself felt with slight discomfort in the morning. It seems to a person that a nail has been driven into the heel, and it interferes with walking. After a while, when a person walks around, the discomfort goes away.

With the progression of the disease, increasing pain is observed after the load on the lower extremities. The strength of the discomfort depends on where the spur is located: the closer it is to the nerves, the more intense the pain. Sharp soreness can occur when getting out of bed or when climbing stairs. Very rarely, the process may not provoke discomfort, but an inflammatory process is detected during a random examination.

When the disease in question is combined with acute inflammation of the fascia, people complain of heat and tingling in the problem area, redness of the skin and its roughness, severe pain when walking.

After a certain time, the pain becomes permanent, which affects the patient’s gait. The person twists the limb in such a way as not to put pressure on the heel, leaning on the toe and side of the foot. Often, such actions cause flat feet of the transverse type, which aggravates the patient’s condition. In advanced stages, a person is completely immobilized from unbearable pain.

Diagnosis of a heel spur

It is easy to diagnose a heel spur. A qualified specialist will be able to determine the cause of the pain, based solely on the patient’s complaints. The doctor will conduct a visual examination, press on certain points and understand what the problem is.

In some cases, confirmation of the diagnosis using additional methods is required:

  • blood tests to detect inflammation;
  • uric acid testing to rule out gout;
  • urinalysis;
  • ultrasound examination of the foot – examination of the condition of the muscles and surrounding tissues in order to prevent the development of an abscess;
  • performing a duplex examination of the vessels to understand if the blood circulation is disturbed;
  • MRI of the heel, which makes it possible to study the condition of the nerve fibers.

If additional diseases are identified during the examination, the doctor may prescribe a consultation with other narrow specialists.

Methods for treating spurs

The problem in question can be confused with a disease such as thorn. It is worth considering that these are different diseases, because the focus is located in different parts of the heel, so the treatment is radically different.

After an x-ray, the specialist will determine at what stage the growth of the process is: the first stage is characterized by a round shape of the spur; in the second stage, the spur is large; in the third stage, the process becomes like a bird’s beak.

In order to relieve the patient from pain, put the tendon in order and eliminate the inflammatory process, it is customary to carry out drug treatment and physiotherapy. Doctors prescribe the use of tablets, ointments and special compresses to relieve discomfort.

There are several procedures that make the treatment of spurs faster and more effective:

  • x-ray;
  • laser treatment;
  • use of ultrasound;
  • immobilization;
  • application of heel prostheses;
  • electrophoresis;
  • phonphoresis;
  • operation.

In addition, modern medicine is armed with the following methods of treating heel spurs:

  1. Prescribing ointments. In the pharmacy, you can buy various ointments that relieve inflammation, renew cartilage tissue and eliminate pain. If they are used strictly according to the doctor’s prescription, then the patient has a decrease in swelling and restoration of the balance of minerals in problem areas of the body. Warming ointment promotes proper blood circulation and restoration of heat transfer. Such ointments include Voltaren, Indomethacin and Dexamethasone.

  2. Medical therapy. Tablets are prescribed in the case when it is necessary to remove the inflammatory process. They accelerate tissue regeneration, promote their elasticity and restore blood circulation. These drugs include Ibuprofen, Nise, Artadol and Diclofenac.

  3. Intramuscular injections. The injection should only be administered by a medical professional in order to select the correct dosage and depth of injection. To relieve pain, injections are given several times a day.

  4. Blockade. Surgeons inject these injections exclusively into the heel. They relieve inflammation and fight pain. Correctly set blockade helps to cope with the problem for a long time – up to 5 years. These drugs include Betamethasone or Diprospan, which are administered in combination with lidocaine.

  5. Wave Therapy. This treatment option is considered one of the most effective. It has no side effects and does not cause pain. The procedure itself lasts no more than half an hour.

  6. Laser therapy. Laser treatment is absolutely painless and even pleasant. During the procedure, the laser hits the spur and provokes an acceleration of metabolism. Such therapy is carried out for about 15 minutes for 10 days. It is worth considering that this is an expensive pleasure.

It is up to the specialist to decide which method of treatment to choose after a complete examination of the patient and the final diagnosis.

Features of surgical intervention

At an advanced stage of heel spur development, doctors may prescribe a surgical intervention for the patient. This rarely happens, but the effectiveness of this method of treatment is quite high – up to 75%. In other cases, there is a return of discomfort and pain.

Indications for removal of a heel spur

There are several indications, in which case the operation cannot be avoided. They are:

  1. Patient does not improve within 6 months of treatment.
  2. Medical therapy is not possible or the patient cannot expect it to be effective.
  3. Loss of working capacity and mobility.

All these factors indicate that the pathological process is in the late stages. In this case, it is forbidden to postpone treatment.

How is the operation?

Surgery is performed in several stages:

  1. Introduction of anesthesia to the patient.
  2. Making an incision in the heel area.
  3. Penetration inside the heel and removal of the problem area of ​​the fascia.
  4. Nerve release from pressure by muscle incision.
  5. Spur excision.
  6. Heel alignment for faster tissue repair.
  7. Return to the right place of nerves and muscles.
  8. Suture and its processing.
  9. The patient’s exit from anesthesia.

This completes the work of the surgeon. Then comes the recovery period, during which the person must completely limit movement so as not to load the heel.

Prevention of heel spurs

In order to prevent the development of inflammation in the heel fascia, you need to adjust your lifestyle and follow some rules:

  1. Buy comfortable shoes and give up high heels.
  2. Give preference to orthopedic insoles with an arch support.
  3. Watch your own weight, do not allow it to increase.
  4. Lead a healthy lifestyle: eat right and drink plenty of purified water.
  5. Visit sports clubs, gyms.
  6. Try to reduce the load on the legs: stand less in one place and do not walk for a long time.
  7. Perform foot massage.
  8. Do not start posture problems and treat flat feet.

At the first symptoms that point to a spur, you should see a specialist to clarify the diagnosis. You can’t start the process, because most treatment methods are effective only at the first stage of the disease. If you follow the doctor’s instructions, then you can get rid of the spur without surgery.

Author

Lushchenko Sergey Vladimirovich

traumatologist-orthopedist, arthrologist

Doctor of the highest category

Experience 23 years

+7 (495) 032-15-21

Rose shot treatment consultation St. Petersburg ID-CLINIC

Rose shot treatment consultation St. Petersburg ID-CLINIC

  • Medical appointments

  • Syphilidologist
  • INFECTIONIST
  • Dermatologist
  • Therapist
  • Cardiologist
  • Oncologist
  • Endocrinologist
  • Neurologist
  • Medical certificates
  • Ultrasound diagnostics – Ultrasound
  • Functional diagnostics
  • Urologist
  • Venereologist
  • Parasitologist
  • Mammologist
  • All services

  • Diagnosis

  • Gynecology
  • Dermatovenereology
  • Cardiology
  • Neurology
  • Oncology
  • Therapy
  • Urology
  • Endocrinology
  • Infectology

  • Treatment

  • A
  • B
  • B
  • G
  • D
  • E
  • Yo
  • F
  • W
  • and
  • Y
  • K
  • L
  • M
  • H
  • O
  • P
  • P
  • C
  • T
  • U
  • F
  • X
  • C
  • H
  • W
  • SC
  • E
  • Yu
  • I

COVID

Full range of medical care for COVID virus infection

CHECK-UP

Full range of complex medical diagnostics

Tests

take tests at affordable prices

Drugs 9000 3

specialized pharmacy

Online

specialized consultation

DISCOUNTS

Only great deals for you!

St. Petersburg, Ivana Chernykh st., 25A

Mon.-Sat. from 9:00 – 20:00, sun. from 10:00 – 18:00

  • home
  • •
  • Treatment
  • •
  • At
  • •

  • rose prick

EXPERT ASSISTANCE

  • herpes viruses
  • human papillomavirus
  • viral hepatitis
  • mycobacteriosis
  • HIV infection
  • intrauterine, parasitic and other infectious diseases

A beautiful bouquet of roses evokes positive emotions and a sincere smile in every woman, but not everyone knows about the danger that graceful flowers can hide. When a rose is pricked with a thorn, the recipient of the bouquet is at risk of contracting a fungal infection with sporotrichosis, which is also known as gardeners’ disease. The disease is common in hot countries, so Ecuadorian and Kenyan roses, which are now popular, are of the greatest concern.

What is sporotrichosis

This is a fungal disease caused by the mold Sporothrix schenckii that can affect the skin, subcutaneous tissue and lymphatic system. The disease is rarely found on the territory of Russia, since in our country there are unfavorable climatic conditions for the existence of the pathogen. Distinctive features of the infection: a long incubation period and a variety of symptoms, which makes it difficult for a doctor to make a diagnosis in time.

How dangerous is a rose prick

Pathogenic fungus spores are rarely found on donated flowers, because the thorns are removed before the bouquet is formed, and the stems of the roses are carefully cleaned. The thorns left on the rose are dangerous, because when the skin is punctured, the pathogen penetrates deep into the soft tissues, where the primary focus of the disease occurs. If this happens, the fungus can spread through the bloodstream throughout the body.

What to do if you prick a rose with a thorn

If possible, carefully remove the thorn with tweezers and treat the wound with an antiseptic solution (hydrogen peroxide, chlorhexidine). To prevent bacteria from entering the wound, you can lubricate it with brilliant green, cover it with a bactericidal plaster. If within 2-3 days the redness and swelling do not disappear, you need to visit a doctor to examine the injection site and, if necessary, re-treat.

Make an appointment

St. Petersburg, Ivan Chernykh st., 25A

Mon-Sat 09.00-20.00, Sun 10.00-18.00

By clicking on the “Sign up” button you agree to the processing of personal data

Online consultation

Convenient way,

at your convenience

By clicking on the “Sign up” button, you agree to the processing of personal data

Is it possible to cure sporotrichosis

If detected in time, a fungal infection can be successfully treated. Etiotropic antifungal drugs are selected for patients, and regular treatment of the entrance gate (the puncture site with a thorn) is also prescribed. Doctors may use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and desensitizing drugs to reduce pain and swelling.

Make an appointment with a doctor

ID-Clinic specialists conduct online consultations and receive patients at the clinic. To make an appointment for a convenient date and time, leave a request in the feedback form on this page.

Cost of clinic services

Inspection

Get service

B01.014.001.001

Primary appointment (examination, consultation) with an infectious disease specialist

3000 ₽

B01.014.001.003

Repeated appointment (examination, consultation) with an infectious disease specialist

3000 ₽

Online consultation of an infectious disease specialist

3000 ₽

Other clinic services

Mycologist

Infection specialist online consultation

  • SavchenkoMikhail Andreevich

    Infectionist,
    Hepatologist,
    Doctor of the first category,
    Candidate of Medical Sciences