Infections caused by dematiaceous fungi: chromoblastomycosis and phaeohyphomycosis.

Because of the increased incidence of infections caused by dematiaceous fungi, it is important to clearly define the conceptual basis for the clinical nomenclature for infections caused by these fungi. When considering dematiaceous fungal infections, there is a continuum of diseases that can be separated into the three categories of chromoblastomycosis, phaeohyphomycosis, and mycetoma. The diseases chromoblastomycosis and phaeohyphomycosis are compared and contrasted in this chapter.