Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 18, 2026

Therapeutic Effectiveness of a Dietary Supplement for Management of Halitosis in Dogs
07:33

Therapeutic Effectiveness of a Dietary Supplement for Management of Halitosis in Dogs

Published on: July 6, 2015

Epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of Malassezia furfur systemic infection

M J Marcon1, D A Powell

  • 1Department of Pathology, Ohio State University, Columbus.

Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease
|July 1, 1987
PubMed

Insights

Malassezia furfur, a yeast, can cause opportunistic infections in patients with vascular catheters, especially when using intravenous fat emulsions. Catheter removal or stopping fat emulsion therapy is crucial for effective treatment of this serious sepsis.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Clinical Microbiology

Background:

  • Malassezia furfur is a common skin yeast.
  • It typically causes mild superficial infections.
  • It has emerged as an opportunistic pathogen in patients with deep-line vascular catheters.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of Malassezia furfur in catheter-related infections.
  • To understand the factors contributing to M. furfur catheter sepsis.
  • To highlight diagnostic and therapeutic considerations.

Main Methods:

  • Observational analysis of clinical cases.
  • Microbiological identification of Malassezia furfur.
  • Review of treatment outcomes.

Main Results:

  • Intravenous fat emulsions may alter the catheter microenvironment, promoting M. furfur colonization and infection.
  • Dissemination of M. furfur appears primarily limited to the lungs.
  • Antifungal therapy alone is often ineffective without catheter removal or discontinuation of fat emulsion therapy.

Conclusions:

  • Malassezia furfur catheter sepsis requires a high index of suspicion in at-risk patients.
  • Catheter management (removal or discontinuing fat emulsions) is essential for successful treatment.
  • Prompt and appropriate diagnostic methods are critical for timely intervention.

More Related Videos

Infecting Mice with Malassezia spp. to Study the Fungus-Host Interaction06:19

Infecting Mice with Malassezia spp. to Study the Fungus-Host Interaction

Published on: November 6, 2019

Examination of Oral Candida Infection in Primary Sjögren's Syndrome Patients05:26

Examination of Oral Candida Infection in Primary Sjögren's Syndrome Patients

Published on: March 1, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Skin Diseases and Disorders01:23

Skin Diseases and Disorders

Skin is the first line of defense and encounters a variety of microbes. Some pathogenic strains are often the cause of a broad range of infections of the skin and other body systems. These conditions can affect people of all ages and may have different causes, including genetic factors, infections, autoimmune reactions, environmental factors, and lifestyle choices.
Gram-positive Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. are responsible for many of the most common skin infections. However, many...
Cystic Fibrosis: Management01:24

Cystic Fibrosis: Management

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive disorder that predominantly affects individuals of Northern European descent, occurring at a rate of 1 in 3500. It is caused by a genetic mutation in a gene on chromosome 7, most commonly the ΔF508 mutation, that codes for the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein. This results in thicker mucus secretions and obstruction pathologies in multiple organs, including the lungs and sinuses.
Sinus disease and chronic sinusitis...
Fungal Phylum Microsporidia01:28

Fungal Phylum Microsporidia

Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular fungi that were initially classified as protists but were later reclassified based on phylogenetic, molecular, and structural evidence linking them to the Chytridiomycota. These unicellular, non-motile organisms are highly specialized parasites that infect a wide range of animal hosts, including humans. They have evolved extensive genomic and metabolic reductions, making them highly dependent on their hosts for survival.Morphology and Genomic...
The Skin Microbiota01:27

The Skin Microbiota

The human skin serves as a complex ecosystem inhabited by a diverse community of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses. This microbiome plays a critical role in maintaining skin health and defending against pathogenic invaders. The composition of microbial communities varies significantly across different regions of the body, influenced primarily by the local levels of moisture and sebum.Regional Variation in Skin MicrobiotaCutibacterium acnes predominantly colonizes sebaceous...
Staphylococcal Skin Infections01:29

Staphylococcal Skin Infections

Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive coccus that resides harmlessly on the skin and mucous membranes of healthy individuals. When the skin barrier is breached, it can shift from a commensal to an opportunistic pathogen. This transition is facilitated by surface adhesins, such as clumping factor B and S. aureus surface protein G (SasG), which bind to structural proteins, including loricrin and cytokeratin, in the damaged epidermis. Protein A, another key factor, binds the Fc region of...
Cryptococcal Meningitis01:27

Cryptococcal Meningitis

Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening opportunistic infection predominantly associated with HIV/AIDS, accounting for over 100,000 deaths annually worldwide. However, it also affects individuals with other forms of immunosuppression, including those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, organ transplant recipients, patients with innate immunodeficiencies, and individuals with hematological disorders. The infection is caused mainly by Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii,...