Candida tenosynovitis in an AIDS patient: A case report

Abstract

A 36-year-old HIV-positive woman presented with a 3-week history of progressive pain and swelling of the ulnar side of her hand and wrist, including the little finger. Examination revealed an afebrile woman whose left little finger had moderate fusiform swelling and was held in a flexed posture but could be extended passively with only moderate pain. There was a 4 x 3 cm soft tissue mass in the ulnar side of the anterior wrist that was fluctuant, minimally tender, and not attached to the skin. Laboratory studies showed a white blood cell count of 3.6 with a normal differential, and x-ray films were unremarkable. The wrist mass was aspirated, yielding 2 mL of red, cloudy fluid. A Gram stain revealed moderate white blood cells, but no organisms. Incision and drainage of the hand was performed through three small incisions made over the anterior aspects of the little finger, palm, and wrist.’ The