Candida bloodstream infections...

J Antimicrob Chemother. 2013 Feb;68(2):438-43. doi: 10.1093/jac/dks388. Epub 2012 Oct 19.

Treatment of Candida famata bloodstream infections: case series and review of the literature.

Beyda ND, Chuang SH, Alam MJ, Shah DN, Ng TM, McCaskey L, Garey KW.

Source

University of Houston College of Pharmacy, 1441 Moursund Street, Houston, TX 77030, USA.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

Candida famata (also known as Debaryomyces hansenii and Torulopsis candida) is a commensal yeast found in cheese, dairy products and the environment. C. famata accounts for 0.2%-2% of invasive candidiasis. The purpose of this study was to provide an overview of the treatment of C. famata bloodstream infections.

METHODS:

The clinical course of two hospitalized patients who developed C. famata fungaemia within 2 weeks of each other was summarized along with available data regarding in vitro susceptibility patterns, genotyping and clinical outcomes of these cases compared with the published literature.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS:

C. famata appears to exhibit reduced susceptibility to echinocandins and azoles, particularly in the setting of prior antifungal exposure. The removal of indwelling central venous catheters and prompt initiation of therapy with liposomal amphotericin B is recommended for successful treatment of C. famata fungaemia, particularly in immunocompromised patients. These cases also help provide justification for routine antifungal susceptibility testing in patients with candidaemia to guide optimal antifungal therapy.

PMID:

 

23085777

 

[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Note: Sepsis is a potentially life-threatening illness caused by the body’s severe reaction to infection by bacteria, fungi, viruses or parasites. It is one of the top 10 leading causes of 
death in the United States, and each hour of delayed treatment increases the mortality of these patients by 8%. Candida is a fungal pathogen known to cause sepsis, and it is 
associated with approximately 100,000 cases of candidemia in the U.S. annually, making it the fourth-leading cause of hospital-acquired infections. Currently, candidemia has a 40% 
mortality rate, which can be reduced to 11% with early identification of the specific species.