Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infection Due to Lodderomyces elongisporus

Area of Science:

• Medical Mycology
• Infectious Diseases
• Clinical Microbiology

Background:

• Lodderomyces elongisporus is an uncommon cause of bloodstream infections, with limited data on its clinical significance.
• Accurate identification of yeast species is crucial for appropriate patient management and epidemiological surveillance.
• Previous reports have primarily linked L. elongisporus to environmental sources, with few human infections documented.

Observation:

• A catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) occurred in a patient with a history of aortic surgery and aorto-esophageal fistula.
• Initial yeast identification on Candida agar suggested Candida albicans due to dark green colony formation.
• Molecular sequencing confirmed the isolate as Lodderomyces elongisporus, demonstrating its potential for misidentification.

Findings:

• The patient received successful treatment with micafungin for 42 days.
• Genetic analysis revealed 99.9% identity to the L. elongisporus type strain.
• This represents the first reported case of CRBSI caused by L. elongisporus.

Implications:

• L. elongisporus can mimic other Candida species, necessitating molecular methods for accurate diagnosis.
• The clinical presentation and risk factors for L. elongisporus infections require further investigation due to limited case reports.
• This case expands the spectrum of clinical manifestations associated with L. elongisporus and underscores the importance of vigilance in identifying rare fungal pathogens.