Low Sensitivity of Conventional Fungal Agars in Fungemia by Rhodotorula Mucilaginosa: Description of Two Cases

Background Although most bloodstream yeast infections are caused by Candida spp., infections by rare or less common species have increased in recent years. Diagnosis of infections caused by these species is difficult due to the lack of specific symptoms and adequate diagnostic tools. Cases presentat...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: García Gutiérrez, Carmen Alicia, Cuétara García, María Soledad, Moragues Tosantos, María Dolores, Ligero, Jorge, Quevedo, Sara María, Buitrago, Maria José
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2021
País:España
Institución:Universidad del País Vasco
Repositorio:Addi. Archivo Digital para la Docencia y la Investigación
OAI Identifier:oai:addi.ehu.eus:10810/51064
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10810/51064
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:rhodotorula mucilaginosa
fungemia
specific culture media
risk factors
Descripción
Sumario:Background Although most bloodstream yeast infections are caused by Candida spp., infections by rare or less common species have increased in recent years. Diagnosis of infections caused by these species is difficult due to the lack of specific symptoms and adequate diagnostic tools. Cases presentation We describe two cases of fungemia by Rhodotorula mucilaginosa within a few months of each other, in a secondary Spanish hospital. In both cases, diagnosis was challenging. Blood subcultures in conventional fungal media were persistently negatives and the use of non-conventional fungal media was essential for isolating the yeasts and achieving a correct diagnosis. 1-3 beta-d-glucan detection and a panfungal PCR assay were helpful techniques to confirm the diagnosis Conclusion It is highly important to establish an early diagnosis for fungemia. The process is challenging because often non-specific symptoms are presents. When yeasts grow in blood cultures other genera than Candida spp. could be the cause of infection. Patient risk factors should be assessed to incorporate alternative culture media and the available rapid diagnostic test, in order to provide an early recognition of the pathogen