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Torulopsis glabrata osteomyelitis. A case report
Abstract:
Skeletal infection involving Torulopsis glabrata is extremely rare. A 66-year-old woman developed Torulopsis glabrata osteomyelitis during a course of prolonged antibiotic therapy for staphylococcal pneumonia that occurred as a postoperative complication of a total knee arthroplasty for osteoarthritis. Roentgenograms and a biopsy sample revealed a destructive inflammatory lesion of the vertebrae. The presence of the yeast organism in the lesion was demonstrated definitively by culture and tissue pathology, removing any doubt about the pathogenicity of the organism. The disease was successfully treated with 5-fluorocytosine, and the patient recovered without functional impairments.
Insights
Torulopsis glabrata osteomyelitis is a rare skeletal infection. This case highlights successful treatment with 5-fluorocytosine in a patient with a knee arthroplasty complication.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
- Orthopedic Surgery
Background:
- Skeletal infections are uncommon complications of prosthetic joint surgery.
- Torulopsis glabrata (Candida glabrata) is an opportunistic yeast, rarely implicated in osteomyelitis.
- Prolonged antibiotic therapy can predispose patients to secondary infections.
Observation:
- A 66-year-old woman developed vertebral osteomyelitis.
- The infection occurred postoperatively following total knee arthroplasty for osteoarthritis.
- The patient had received prolonged antibiotics for staphylococcal pneumonia.
Findings:
- Diagnostic imaging revealed a destructive inflammatory lesion of the vertebrae.
- Tissue pathology and culture confirmed Torulopsis glabrata as the causative agent.
- The yeast's pathogenicity in this skeletal site was definitively established.
Implications:
- This case expands the known spectrum of Torulopsis glabrata skeletal infections.
- Successful treatment with 5-fluorocytosine demonstrates its efficacy for this rare condition.
- Early diagnosis and targeted antifungal therapy are crucial for favorable outcomes in yeast-induced osteomyelitis.