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Emphysematous pyelonephritis caused by Candida parapsilosis: an unknown etiological agent

Riyaz Ahmad Bhat1, Gulnaz Bashir, Muzaffar Wani

  • 1Department of General Medicine, Sheri-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.

North American Journal of Medical Sciences
|August 23, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Emphysematous pyelonephritis (EPN), a severe kidney infection, can be caused by rare fungal agents, not just bacteria. Antifungal therapy alone effectively treated a unique case in a diabetic patient.

Area of Science:

  • Nephrology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Mycology

Background:

  • Emphysematous pyelonephritis (EPN) is a rare, necrotizing infection of the kidney, typically caused by bacteria in diabetic patients.
  • Fungal causes of EPN are exceptionally rare, with limited reports in blood or urine cultures.

Observation:

  • A 60-year-old diabetic female presented with fever and abdominal pain.
  • Investigations confirmed unilateral EPN, classified as Wan type 1.

Findings:

  • The patient was diagnosed with EPN caused by a rare fungal pathogen.
  • Systemic antifungal therapy, guided by culture sensitivity, was the sole and effective treatment.

Implications:

  • This case highlights the importance of considering rare etiologies, including fungi, in EPN diagnosis.
  • Effective management of fungal EPN may be achieved with targeted antifungal therapy, even in complex cases.
Keywords:
Candida parapsilosisDiabetes mellitusEmphysematous pyelonephritisFungal infection

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