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Fungaemia caused by Hansenula anomala--an outbreak in a cancer hospital
L C Thuler1, S Faivichenco, E Velasco
1Hospital Infection Control Committee and Microbiology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
Abstract:
Yeasts belonging to the genus Hansenula are rarely encountered as the cause of infection in clinical practice. A wide spectrum of infections caused by these fungi can be seen, ranging from asymptomatic fungaemia to severe disease. We describe an outbreak of 24 cases of infection due to H. anomala in an oncological hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The median age of the patients was 11 years, of whom 54.2% were female; 91.7% of the Hansenula fungaemia occurred in the haematology unit. The most frequent primary disease diagnosis was leukaemia (62.5%), and all of those infected had had a central venous catheter or peripheral venous catheter and had been treated previously with broad-spectrum antibiotics. Numerous other risk factors were observed in our cases: previous use of steroids, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and neutropenia (data not shown). No deaths could be attributed to Hansenula.
Insights
An outbreak of Hansenula anomala infections occurred in a Brazilian pediatric oncology hospital. Most cases involved leukemia patients with central venous catheters, but no deaths were attributed to this rare fungal pathogen.
Area of Science:
- Medical Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
- Oncology
Background:
- Infections caused by yeasts of the genus Hansenula are uncommon in clinical settings.
- Hansenula anomala (H. anomala) can cause a range of infections, from asymptomatic fungemia to severe disease.
- Fungal infections pose a significant risk to immunocompromised patients, particularly in hospital environments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report and analyze an outbreak of 24 cases of H. anomala infection.
- To identify the characteristics and risk factors associated with H. anomala infections in an oncological hospital.
- To understand the clinical spectrum and outcomes of H. anomala infections in pediatric cancer patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective case series analysis of H. anomala infections.
- Data collection on patient demographics, primary diagnoses, and clinical management.
- Identification of risk factors including central venous catheters and prior antibiotic use.
Main Results:
- Twenty-four cases of H. anomala infection were identified in an oncological hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- The median patient age was 11 years, with a predominance of females (54.2%).
- Leukemia was the most common primary diagnosis (62.5%), and all infected patients had venous catheters and prior broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment. Other risk factors included steroid use, chemotherapy, radiation, and neutropenia.
Conclusions:
- Hansenula anomala can cause significant infections in immunocompromised pediatric oncology patients.
- Central venous catheters and prior broad-spectrum antibiotic use are key risk factors for H. anomala fungemia.
- Despite the severity of underlying conditions, H. anomala infections in this cohort did not result in attributable mortality.