Intraabdominal abscess related fungaemia caused by Rhodotorula glutinis in a non-neutropenic cancer patient

• Published in: Acta clinica belgica (English ed. Online) Vol. 68; no. 1; pp. 62 - 64
• Main Authors: Diktas, H, Gulec, B, Baylan, O, Oncul, O, Turhan, V, Acar, A, Gorenek, L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis Ltd 01.01.2013
• Subjects: Abdominal Abscess - complications; Abdominal Abscess - microbiology; Adenocarcinoma - complications; Fungemia - complications; Fungemia - microbiology; Humans; Infections; Male; Medical treatment; Middle Aged; Opportunistic Infections - complications; Opportunistic Infections - microbiology; Rhodotorula - isolation & purification; Stomach Neoplasms - complications; Surgery; Tumors; Yeast; Istanbul Turkey; Turkey
• ISSN: 1784-3286; 2295-3337
• DOI: 10.2143/ACB.68.1.2062723

Rhodotorula glutinis is a rare fungal infection that is especially observed in immune-compromised patients. It is common in the skin, faeces, nails, sputum, gastrointestinal system and adenoid tissue. However, the incidence of Rhodotorula glutinis is increased in both local and systemic infections in recent years. Presented here is a case of Rhodotorula glutinis fungaemia that isolated from subhepatic abscess formation and blood in a patient who was operated with Roux-en-Y technique due to gastric adenocarcinoma. Fungal sepsis is an important cause of fever resistant to antibiotic therapy that is often taken into marginal account. It should instead be particularly considered in patients with a history of intraabdominal surgery and non-neutropenic cancer patients. The case described illustrates an episode of systemic infection by Rhodotorula glutinis, correlated with the presence of intraabdominal abscess and without central venous catheters. This is the first case of fungaemia by Rhodotorula glutinis with an intraabdominal abscess source reported from Turkey.