Two drug-resistant ringworm cases in New York City mark CDC’s initial report

May 11 (UPI) — New York City has reported two cases of a rare and highly contagious form of ringworm that is resistant to conventional antifungal treatments. These cases, identified as Trichophyton indotineae infection, mark the first instances of this drug-resistant ringworm discovered in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that a dermatologist in New York City initially observed two patients with severe ringworm that did not respond to standard treatment.

The affected patients, a 47-year-old female and a 28-year-old pregnant woman, both displayed widespread rashes that covered their entire bodies. The older patient developed the rash while in Bangladesh during the previous summer, while the younger patient experienced similar symptoms during her pregnancy in the summer of 2021. Notably, the younger patient had not traveled internationally prior to the onset of the rash. The CDC highlights that neither patient had any underlying health conditions that would make them particularly susceptible to this type of infection, strongly suggesting that Trichophyton indotineae is circulating locally in the community.

Healthcare providers are now being urged by the CDC to consider Trichophyton indotineae infection if patients exhibit ringworm symptoms that do not improve with typical antifungal treatments. Specifically, the CDC advises considering this drug-resistant ringworm when “first-line topical antifungal agents or oral terbinafine” fail to produce positive results.

Trichophyton indotineae is believed to have emerged over the past decade in South Asia, likely as a result of the misuse and overuse of topical antifungal medications and corticosteroids. This highlights the importance of using these drugs judiciously to mitigate the development and spread of drug-resistant strains.