Candida guilliermondii as an agent of postpartum subacute mastitis in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Case report

Area of Science:

• Medical Mycology
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Candida species are known to cause human infections, ranging in severity.
• Certain Candida species are recognized causes of human mastitis, a common inflammatory breast condition affecting lactating women.
• Mastitis can pose a risk for disease transmission from mother to infant.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report the detection and identification of an unusual etiologic agent causing human mastitis.
• To document a case of subacute mastitis caused by Candida guilliermondii in a puerperal woman.

Main Methods:

• Isolation of the causative agent from breast milk.
• Species identification using Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS).
• Confirmation of species identification through genetic sequencing.

Main Results:

• Candida guilliermondii was identified as the etiologic agent of subacute mastitis in a puerperal woman.
• The case occurred in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
• The patient received antifungal therapy and achieved a full recovery.

Conclusions:

• Candida guilliermondii, though uncommon, can be an etiologic agent of human mastitis.
• Accurate species identification is crucial for appropriate treatment of fungal mastitis.
• This finding expands the spectrum of Candida species implicated in human mastitis.