Outbreak of Dirkmeia churashimaensis Fungemia in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, India

Abstract

Bloodstream infections caused by uncommon or novel fungal species are challenging to identify and treat. We report a series of cases of fungemia due to a rare basidiomycete yeast, Dirkmeia churashimaensis, in neonatal patients in India. Whole-genome sequence typing demonstrated that the patient isolates were genetically indistinguishable, indicating a single-source infection.

Keywords

• Dirkmeia churashimaensis
• outbreak
• bloodstream infections
• neonatal intensive care unit
• whole-genome sequencing
• yeast