Lymphocutaneous syndrome. A review of non-sporothrix causes.

The lymphocutaneous syndrome can be caused by a number of diverse microorganisms requiring very different antimicrobial therapy for resolution. The epidemiology and geographic occurrence of the infection often can provide important first clues to the microbiologic etiology. Accurate diagnosis can be accomplished usually by punch or wedge biopsy of a primary lesion or proximal subcutaneous nodule submitted for histopathologic examination and culture. The microbiology laboratory staff should be alerted to the diagnostic possibilities so that appropriate cultural and incubation techniques, procedures, and precautions can be initiated. Provision of a correct microbiologic diagnosis and institution of appropriate antimicrobial therapy will result in a complete cure in almost all instances. Adjunctive surgical debridement may be required for certain organisms such as Nocardia or Mycobacterium chelonae.