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Candida glabrata prosthesis infection following pyelonephritis and septicaemia

F Nayeri1, R Cameron, E Chryssanthou

  • 1Department of Infectious Diseases, County Hospital, Kalmar, Sweden.

Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases
|January 1, 1997
PubMed

Insights

Candida glabrata rarely causes prosthesis infections. This study details a rare case of prosthesis failure due to Candida glabrata, 5 years after initial systemic infection with the same strain.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Clinical Microbiology

Background:

  • Candida glabrata is a common cause of urinary tract infections.
  • Systemic infections from Candida glabrata are increasing.
  • Prosthetic joint infections are typically caused by bacteria, with fungal involvement being rare.

Observation:

  • A patient experienced prosthesis failure 5 years after a systemic Candida glabrata infection (candidaemia and pyelonephritis).
  • The same Candida glabrata strain was identified in both the initial systemic infection and the later prosthesis infection.
  • Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis confirmed the genetic identity of the Candida glabrata strains.

Findings:

  • This case highlights the potential for delayed prosthetic device complications from Candida glabrata.
  • The long-term persistence and potential for relapse of Candida glabrata infections are demonstrated.
  • The study confirms the utility of molecular typing methods like RAPD in tracking fungal infections.

Implications:

  • Clinicians should consider Candida glabrata in the differential diagnosis of late-onset prosthetic joint infections, especially in patients with a history of systemic candidiasis.
  • Further research is needed to understand the pathogenesis and risk factors for late prosthetic infections caused by Candida glabrata.
  • This case underscores the importance of considering fungal pathogens in prosthetic infections beyond typical bacterial causes.

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