To the Editor.—
Penicillium is rarely reported as an infectious agent in man. This mold is ubiquitous in nature and its frequent isolation in cultures is routinely ascribed to contamination.1(pp456-458) We report a case of tinea capitis in which Penicillium may have been the causative agent.
Report of a Case.—
A 3-year-old boy was seen in January 1982 with a one-month history of patchy occipitoparietal hair loss with loss of luster in the remaining hair, and scattered "black dots" and light brown crusts on the scalp. Results of a Wood's light examination at that time were normal. Results of potassium hydroxide examination of epilated hairs were also normal; the brownish crusts showed brown, double-walled spores, some of which were clumped. A culture grown on dermatophyte test medium showed Penicillium species. The patient began receiving 50 mg of ketoconazole daily. Minimal fungicidal drug concentration studies against the organism were