Management of Invasive Infections due to a Rare Arthroconidial Yeast, <i>Saprochaete capitata</i>, in Two Patients with Acute Hematological Malignancies
Francesca Gurrieri,
Silvia Corbellini,
Giorgio Piccinelli,
Alessandro Turra,
Enrico Morello,
Michele Malagola,
Domenico Russo,
Arnaldo Caruso,
Maria Antonia De Francesco
Affiliations
Francesca Gurrieri
Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Institute of Microbiology, University of Brescia-ASST Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy
Silvia Corbellini
Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Institute of Microbiology, University of Brescia-ASST Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy
Giorgio Piccinelli
Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Institute of Microbiology, University of Brescia-ASST Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy
Alessandro Turra
Chair of Hematology, Unit of Blood Diseases and Stem Cells Transplantation, University of Brescia-ASST Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy
Enrico Morello
Chair of Hematology, Unit of Blood Diseases and Stem Cells Transplantation, University of Brescia-ASST Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy
Michele Malagola
Chair of Hematology, Unit of Blood Diseases and Stem Cells Transplantation, University of Brescia-ASST Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy
Domenico Russo
Chair of Hematology, Unit of Blood Diseases and Stem Cells Transplantation, University of Brescia-ASST Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy
Arnaldo Caruso
Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Institute of Microbiology, University of Brescia-ASST Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy
Maria Antonia De Francesco
Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Institute of Microbiology, University of Brescia-ASST Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy
Saprochaete capitata is an arthroconidial yeast, found principally in the environment, even if it belongs also to the normal microbial flora that colonize human subjects. This yeast is increasingly associated with invasive infections in hematological patients, in particular in those affected by acute leukemia. An important risk factor that predisposes to this infection is the profound neutropenia present in such immunocompromised patients. Saprochaete spp. were found resistant to both echinocandins and fluconazole so the treatment is often difficult. Here, we report two cases of sepsis in two patients with acute leukemia. All of them had fatal events, due to the worsening of their clinical condition. An early diagnosis and appropriate management of these pathogens is important in consideration of the poor prognosis associated to these fungal invasive infections.