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Revista Iberoamericana de Micologia Sep 2008Rhodotorula is an emerging opportunistic pathogen, particularly in immunocompromised patients. Many cases of fungemia associated with catheters, endocarditis,... (Review)
Review
Rhodotorula is an emerging opportunistic pathogen, particularly in immunocompromised patients. Many cases of fungemia associated with catheters, endocarditis, peritonitis, meningitis, and endophthalmitis are infections incited by this yeast. The main purpose of this study was to review all cases of Rhodotorula infection reported in the literature and to describe risk factors, underlying conditions and outcome. From 128 cases, 79% were fungemia (103 cases), 7% eye infections (nine cases) and 5% (six cases) peritonitis associated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. Eighty seven percent of Rhodotorula infections are associated with underlying immunosuppression or cancer. The most common isolated risk factor associated with Rhodotorula infection was the use of a central venous catheter, which was found in 83.4% of Rhodotorula fungemia (86 cases). Rhodotorula mucilaginosa was the most common species of fungemia (74% of cases), followed by Rhodotorula glutinis with 7.7%. The species was not identified in 17% of the cases of fungemias. Amphotericin was the drug of choice in the treatment of fungemia and most of the eye infections were treated with topical amphotericin, although all patients lost their vision. All peritonitis cases associated with continous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis needed to have the Tenckoff catheter changed. The overall mortality of Rhodotorula infection was 12.6%.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Infant; Male; Middle Aged; Mycoses; Rhodotorula; Risk Factors; Young Adult
PubMed: 18785780
DOI: 10.1016/s1130-1406(08)70032-9 -
Medical Mycology Aug 2007Rhodotorula spp. are emergent opportunistic pathogens, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. They have been associated with endocarditis, peritonitis,... (Review)
Review
Rhodotorula spp. are emergent opportunistic pathogens, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. They have been associated with endocarditis, peritonitis, meningitis endophthalmitis and catheter-associated fungemia. The aim of this study was to review all cases of central venous catheter-related fungemia due to Rhodotorula spp. reported in the literature in order to determine the best management of this uncommon infection. All patients but one in the 88 cases examined had some form of underlying disease including sixty-nine (78.4%) who had cancer. Rhodotorula mucilaginosa was the species most frequently recovered (75%), followed by Rhodotorula glutinis (6%). Amphotericin B deoxycholate was the most common antifungal agent used as treatment and the overall mortality was 9.1% in this review. This fungemia is a rare disease which can be found in immunocompromised and in the intensive care patients. The use of specific antifungal therapy may be associated with an increase in the survival. It should be noted that Rhodotorula spp. is resistant to fluconazole.
Topics: Amphotericin B; Antifungal Agents; Catheterization, Central Venous; Catheters, Indwelling; Deoxycholic Acid; Drug Combinations; Female; Fungemia; Humans; Male; Rhodotorula
PubMed: 17654271
DOI: 10.1080/13693780701381289