Epidemiology and Outcome of Rhodotorula Fungemia in a Tertiary Care Hospital

• Published in: Clinical infectious diseases Vol. 43; no. 6; pp. e60 - e63
• Main Authors: Lunardi, Luciano W., Aquino, Valério R., Zimerman, Ricardo A., Goldani, Luciano Z.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States The University of Chicago Press 15.09.2006; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adrenal Cortex Hormones - therapeutic use; Adult; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Antibiotics; Antifungal Agents - therapeutic use; Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; Catheterization, Central Venous - adverse effects; Child; Clinical outcomes; Drug resistance; Drug Resistance, Fungal; Drug therapy; Echinocandins; Female; Fluconazole - therapeutic use; Fungal infections; Fungemia - complications; Fungemia - drug therapy; Fungemia - epidemiology; Hospitals; Humans; Lipopeptides; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasms - complications; Neoplasms - drug therapy; Peptides, Cyclic - therapeutic use; Retrospective Studies; Rhodotorula; Rhodotorula - drug effects; Risk Factors; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 1058-4838; 1537-6591
• DOI: 10.1086/507036

We reviewed demographic data, risk factors, treatment, and outcomes associated with Rhodotorula fungemia in a tertiary care hospital during 2002–2005. Rhodotorula species caused fungemic episodes in 7 patients during the 4-year period that we studied. The most common predisposing factors were patients with hematological and solid malignancy receiving corticosteroids and cytotoxic drugs, the presence of central venous catheters, and the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics. Because of Rhodotorula species's intrinsic resistance to triazole and echinocandin antifungal agents, patients receiving fluconazole and caspofungin might be susceptible to the development of breakthrough Rhodotorula fungemia.