(al″tĕr-na′rē-ă )
A genus of fungi of the Dematiaceae family. These fungi cause phaeohyphomycosis. They can also cause onychomycosis, sinusitis, ulcerated cutaneous infections, and keratitis, visceral infections and osteomyelitis in immunocompromised persons. In immunocompetent patients, Alternaria colonizes the paranasal sinuses, leading to chronic hypertrophic sinusitis.