Subcutaneous mycoses are usually transmitted by which mechanism?

• A. Inhalation
• B. Trauma
• C. Ingestion
• D. Vector-borne

Answer: (B)

Subcutaneous mycoses arise when environmental fungi are deposited into the skin through a break in the barrier, so they establish infection in the subcutaneous tissues. This traumatic inoculation—think a thorn, splinter, or puncture wound introducing soil-dwelling fungi like Sporothrix schenckii—drives the disease process. Once inside, the fungi multiply locally and can spread along lymphatics in some cases.

Inhalation is the typical route for many other fungal infections that affect the lungs or become systemic, not subcutaneous disease. Ingestion isn’t the usual path for these infections, and vector-borne transmission (via an insect bite) isn’t characteristic of subcutaneous mycoses.