Successful treatment of recalcitrant molluscum contagiosum in a stem cell transplant patient with Candida immunotherapy

Solid organ and stem cell transplant recipients have an increased risk of developing cutaneous infections, which often are refractory to conventional treatment (Euvrard et al., Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2001, 44, 932–939). Molluscum contagiosum, a common self-limited disease primarily affecting children, can be more severe and unresponsive to therapy in transplant patients (Gardner & Ormond, Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2006, 31, 452–453). Candida immunotherapy has been widely used for the treatment of warts, and recently its application has been expanded to include treatment of symptomatic molluscum in pediatric patients (Enns & Evans, Pediatric Dermatology, 2011, 28, 254–258; Maronn et al., Pediatric Dermatology, 2008, 25, 189–192). However, to our knowledge there have been no reports in the literature of its utility in the setting of adult transplant or immunocompromised patients. Herein, we report a case of successful treatment of refractory molluscum contagiosum in a stem cell transplant patient with Candida immunotherapy.