Fungemia por Malassezia sympodialis en una Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Neonatal de Colombia

Abstract

The genus Malassezia comprises lipophilic yeasts, commensals of the skin of humans and animals, responsible for dermatological and systemic infections, particu-larly in preterm infants hospitalized in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) with central venous catheters, broad-spectrum antibiotics and parenteral nutrition rich in lipids. Information about fungemia by this microorganism is limited, however, the majority of invasive infections reported in the literature have been associated with M. furfur and M. pachydermatis. A case of M. sympodialis fungemia is reported in a preterm newborn hospitalized in the NICU of a Colombian hospital with clinical suspicion of neonatal sepsis, broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy and negative routine blood cultures. The isolation was susceptible to fluconazole and voriconazole, and resistant to amphotericin B. There are few reports of fungemia produced by M. sympodialis, but all agree that it is an underestimated yeast in individuals with predisposing factors.

Keywords

• malassezia
• fungemia
• identification
• susceptibility.