Central line associated blood stream infection (CLABSI) due to Exophiala dermatitidis in an adult patient: Case report and review

Abstract

Exophiala dermatitidis is a dematiaceous fungus with yeast-like and hyphal growth states that may cause cutaneous and visceral infections. Recently, E. dermatitidis has been linked to central line associated blood stream infection (CLABSI), probably due to its ability to produce extracellular polysaccharides and grow as biofilm. We describe an E. dermatitidis CLASBI. The strain was identified by morphological and molecular methods. E. dermatitidis CLASBI is highly uncommon, but seems to be increasing. Keywords: Exophiala dermatitidis, Melanized fungi, Black yeast, Fungemia, Wangiella dermatitidis