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Molecular epidemiology of a Malassezia pachydermatis neonatal unit outbreak

Amin Ilahi1, Inès Hadrich1, Sabrina Goudjil2

  • 1Laboratoire de biologie moléculaire parasitaire et fongique, Faculté de Médecine de Sfax. Rue Magida Boulila, 3029 Sfax - Tunisie.

Medical Mycology
|April 4, 2017
PubMed

Insights

A yeast outbreak in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) was investigated using molecular epidemiology. Multiple Malassezia pachydermatis genotypes colonized neonates, suggesting a polyclonal source, and the outbreak ceased after implementing infection control measures.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Mycology
  • Infectious Disease Epidemiology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Malassezia pachydermatis, a non-lipid-dependent yeast, is primarily found on animals but can colonize human skin.
  • An outbreak of Malassezia pachydermatis occurred in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the molecular epidemiology of a Malassezia pachydermatis outbreak in a NICU.
  • To characterize the genetic diversity of Malassezia pachydermatis isolates during the outbreak.

Main Methods:

  • Isolates were collected from 25 neonates over 16 months at a French University Hospital.
  • Yeast identification was performed using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.
  • Molecular typing utilized intergenic-spacer 1 (IGS1) nucleotide sequence polymorphisms analysis.

Main Results:

  • Of 186 isolates, 47 were typed, all belonging to type 3.
  • The majority (78.7%) were subtype 3D, with three new subtypes (3E, 3F, 3G) identified.
  • No specific subtype was linked to sample site or time; multiple genotypes colonized individual neonates.

Conclusions:

  • This study provides the first molecular insight into a Malassezia pachydermatis outbreak in neonates.
  • The outbreak was polyclonal, with an unidentified source.
  • Infection control measures, including discontinuing a specific hand cream, successfully halted the outbreak.
Keywords:
IGS1Malassezia pachydermatisneonatesoutbreaktyping

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