An unusual case of Rhodotorula mucilaginosa fungaemia in a cancer patient

Abstract

Rhodotorula is emerging as a relevant cause of nosocomial and opportunistic infections. Herein, we present a case of fungaemia due to Rhodotorula mucilaginosa in a cancer patient with lumbosacral stimulator for herniated disc with unfavourable outcome. The patient was hospitalized for twenty days during which he underwent various diagnostic tests before discovering the presence of colon cancer. At day 16 of hospitalization, a bloodstream infection due to R. mucilaginosa with an antimycogram profile resistant to fluconazole occurred. It is emphasized the need for the rapid and correct identification of R. mucilaginosa in order to set up as fast as possible a pathogen driven therapy, in particular in the immunocompromised subjects.

Keywords

• Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, fungaemia, opportunistic infection