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Candida zeylanoides: another opportunistic yeast
D Levenson1, M A Pfaller, M A Smith
1Department of Medicine, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New Hyde Park, New York 11042.
Journal of Clinical Microbiology
|August 1, 1991
Summary
A patient with scleroderma experienced recurrent Candida zeylanoides fungemia. This yeast variant, capable of tolerating higher temperatures, complicated recovery, highlighting the need for precise identification and targeted antifungal therapy.
Area of Science:
- Medical Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
- Clinical Microbiology
Background:
- Scleroderma and gastrointestinal malabsorption can lead to complications like fungemia.
- Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) is a critical support for patients with severe malabsorption.
- Recurrent bloodstream infections pose significant challenges in immunocompromised individuals.
Observation:
- A patient with scleroderma and TPN-dependent malabsorption presented with recurrent Candida zeylanoides fungemia.
- The same yeast species was isolated in blood cultures during three separate febrile episodes.
- Biochemical and molecular analyses confirmed the identity and genetic relatedness of the isolates.
Findings:
- The recurrent Candida zeylanoides isolates were identical to each other but distinct from reference strains.
- DNA restriction fragment analysis revealed unique banding patterns for the patient's isolates.
- The patient's yeast isolates possessed the ability to tolerate 35°C, a characteristic not shared by control strains.
Implications:
- The identification of a thermotolerant Candida zeylanoides variant underscores the importance of precise species identification in recurrent fungemia.
- Understanding the genetic and phenotypic variations in Candida species is crucial for effective antifungal treatment strategies.
- Thermotolerant yeast variants may present unique challenges in managing infections in immunocompromised patients, potentially impacting treatment outcomes.