Protothecosis algaemia in a patient presenting with septic arthritis: A rare case of Prototheca zopfii isolated from Malaysia
Prem Ananth Palaniappan,
Cassandra Anne Abot,
Ratna Mohd Tap,
Fairuz Amran
Affiliations
Prem Ananth Palaniappan
Mycology Section, Bacteriology Unit, Infectious Disease Research Centre, Institute for Medical Research, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia; Corresponding author.
Cassandra Anne Abot
University of Malaya, Malaysia
Ratna Mohd Tap
Mycology Section, Bacteriology Unit, Infectious Disease Research Centre, Institute for Medical Research, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia
Fairuz Amran
Mycology Section, Bacteriology Unit, Infectious Disease Research Centre, Institute for Medical Research, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia
Prototheca species have been reported to cause infections in human. Typically, clinical symptoms of protothecosis include cutaneous infection, olecranon bursitis, tenosynovitis and disseminated systemic disease. We report a case of septic arthritis in which Prototheca zopfii was isolated from blood. Joint aspirate was also sent for cultures but did not yield any growth. No other organisms were isolated from this patient during his admission. The blood isolate was identified to species level via Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method. The patient improved with administration of intravenous itraconazole.
