ARS | Publication request: CATHETER-RELATED FUNGEMIA DUE TO CANDIDA THERMOPHILA

Submitted to: Journal of Clinical Microbiology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: May 31, 2006
Publication Date: August 15, 2006
Citation: Bar-Meir, M., Sutton, D.A., Wickes, B., Kurtzman, C.P., Goldman, S., Zheng, X. 2006. Catheter-related fungemia due to Candida thermophila. Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 44(8):3035-3036.

Interpretive Summary: This study reports the case of a blood stream infection by Candida thermophila, a yeast not previously known to cause human infections. The yeast was identified at NCAUR by DNA sequencing. The successful identification of this pathogenic isolate was possible because of a diagnostic gene sequence database developed at NCAUR, which has been used frequently to identify other medically important yeasts as well as food and beverage spoilage and biocontrol species.

Technical Abstract: We report a case of blood stream infection caused by Candida thermophila, a yeast not previously associated with human disease. The infection occurred in a 13-year-old boy with medulloblastoma who presented with one day of fever. Multiple blood cultures were positive for yeast. Removal of the catheter resulted in prompt resolution of the fever and sterilization of the blood cultures. The species identified by sequencing domains 1 and 2 (D1/D2) of the large subunit rRNA gene. Antifungal susceptibility testing was also performed.