First U.S. Case of Sexually Transmitted, Drug-Resistant Fungal Infection Detected in NYC

Health experts in NYC have identified the first US case of a sexually transmitted fungal infection, Trichophyton mentagrophytes type VII (TMVII), in a man who developed rashes on his penis, buttocks, and limbs. The infection, which has been rising in Europe, particularly among men who have sex with men, responds to standard antifungal treatments but can be confused with eczema, delaying treatment. Another fungal strain, Trichophyton indotineae, widespread in India, has shown resistance to common antifungal medication, posing a greater challenge for dermatologists.