Catheter-related Malassezia furfur fungemia in immunocompromised patients Journal Article


Authors: Barber, G. R.; Brown, A. E.; Kiehn, T. E.; Edwards, F. F.; Armstrong, D.
Article Title: Catheter-related Malassezia furfur fungemia in immunocompromised patients
Abstract: purpose, patients, and methods: Malassezia furfur has usually been described as a cause of catheter-related sepsis in neonates receiving intravenous lipid emulsion. We report seven cases of catheter-related M. furfur fungemia that occurred in seven immunocompromised patients including four adults and three children who were not neonates. Only two of these patients were receiving concurrent intravenous lipid emulsion. results: All positive blood cultures were obtained from a central venous access device, one of which was a port device. Quantitative M. furfur colony counts ranged from 50 cfu/mL to greater than 1,000 cfu/mL. All seven patients were treated with amphotericin B. Blood drawn through the central lines of three patients yielded additional organisms. One central venous access device required removal due to persistently positive M. furfur blood cultures despite treatment with amphotericin B. conclusion: We conclude that catheter-related M. furfur fungemia occurs in immunocompromised patients with central venous access devices whether or not they are receiving intravenous lipids. Prompt, aggressive treatment with amphotericin B (1 mg/kg/d) may spare patients removal of their central venous access device. Further studies are needed to determine the role of endogenous lipids in the development of catheter-related M. furfur fungemia and to determine if there is a seasonal incidence in populations other than neonates, since all of our cases occurred between late March and July. © 1993.
Keywords: adult; child; clinical article; preschool child; child, preschool; antibiotic therapy; retrospective studies; infant; medulloblastoma; cholesterol; triacylglycerol; gentamicin; acute lymphocytic leukemia; vancomycin; immune deficiency; immunocompromised host; chronic lymphatic leukemia; catheter infection; combined immunodeficiency; embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma; aplastic anemia; central venous catheter; cefazolin; sulfamethoxazole; trimethoprim; catheterization, central venous; ceftazidime; fungus culture; amphotericin b; central venous catheterization; fungemia; human; male; female; priority journal; article; aztreonam; lipid emulsion; intravenous feeding; malassezia furfur; malassezia
Journal Title: The American Journal of Medicine
Volume: 95
Issue: 4
ISSN: 0002-9343
Publisher: Elsevier Inc.  
Date Published: 1993-10-01
Start Page: 365
End Page: 370
Language: English
DOI: 10.1016/0002-9343(93)90304-8
PUBMED: 8213867
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: Source: Scopus
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MSK Authors
  1. Timothy E Kiehn
    100 Kiehn
  2. Arthur E Brown
    76 Brown
  3. Donald Armstrong
    240 Armstrong
  4. Fitzroy F Edwards
    23 Edwards