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Infection by Rhodotorula sp. in children receiving treatment for malignant diseases

Gilberto Comarú Pasqualotto1, Felipe Antônio Copetti, Clarice Franco Meneses

  • 1Pediatric Oncology Unit, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil. gcp25400@terra.com.br

Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
|April 20, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Rhodotorula yeasts can cause opportunistic infections in children with cancer, particularly those with central venous catheters and neutropenia. Prompt antifungal therapy and catheter removal are crucial for successful treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Mycology
  • Pediatric Oncology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Rhodotorula species are typically commensal yeasts.
  • Opportunistic infections by Rhodotorula are rare, especially in pediatric cancer patients.
  • Previous reports linked Rhodotorula fungemia to central venous catheters in children with cancer.

Observation:

  • Three non-fatal cases of Rhodotorula fungemia in pediatric patients with post-chemotherapy neutropenia are presented.
  • All patients had neutropenia following chemotherapy.
  • Two of the three patients had a central venous catheter.

Findings:

  • Systemic antifungal therapy was effective in treating the fungemia.
  • Catheter removal was necessary in two of the three cases.
  • The patients experienced a positive response to treatment.

Implications:

  • Rhodotorula fungemia is a potential complication in pediatric cancer patients with neutropenia.
  • Aggressive therapeutic strategies, including antifungal agents and catheter management, are important.
  • Early diagnosis and intervention are critical for favorable outcomes in high-risk pediatric patients.

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