Histoplasmin skin-testing survey in hospitalized patients in the French West Indies (Martinique).

Objective. Histoplasma capsulatum infection is considered to be endemic in the West Indies. Nevertheless, few epidemiologic studies have been conducte d in this area. The histoplasmin skin test reflects the frequency of asympt omatic asymptomatic forms of histoplasmosis. We studied the prevalence of p ositive skin tests in a population of the French West Indies (Martinique). Materials and methods. Forty one patients (24 females and 17 males), age ra nge 29 to 90 years, were tested for histoplasmin skin sensitivity between A ugust and October 1997, in the department of dermatology of Fort de France (French West Indies). Patients with immunosuppression or personal history o f histoplasmosis were excluded. Results. Five patients had a positive skin test (12 p. 100). No significati ve association was found between a positive skin test and diabetes, rural o ccupations or exposure to bats. Discussion. Despite the small number of cases, related with difficulties in obtaining histoplasmin, our study showed a sensitivity level similar to me dium endemic areas of the USA. The positive skin test rate is much higher t han the rate reported before in West Indies, in a sample of the population under 25 years of age.