Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Rhodotorula mucilaginosa outbreak in neonatal intensive care unit: microbiological features, clinical presentation, and analysis of related variables

  • Concise Article
  • Published:
European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Reported here are the features of a Rhodotorula mucilaginosa outbreak that occurred in a neonatal intensive care unit. Over a period of 19 days, clinical and laboratory signs of sepsis appeared in four premature infants carrying indwelling vascular catheters. After bloodstream infection with R. mucilaginosa was ascertained, the patients underwent amphotericin B therapy and recovered completely. In a retrospective case-control study, the variables displaying a statistical difference between case and control-group neonates were birth weight, gestational age, duration of parenteral nutrition, duration of antibiotic therapy and prophylactic administration of fluconazole. To our knowledge, this is the first reported outbreak caused by yeasts of the Rhodotorula genus.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Guarro J, Gené J, Stchigel AM (1999) Developments in fungal taxonomy. Clin Microbiol Rev 12:454–500

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Hazen KC (1995) New and emerging yeast pathogens. Clin Microbiol Rev 8:462–478

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Hagan ME, Klotz SA, Bartholomew W, Potter L, Nelson M (1995) A pseudoepidemic of Rhodotorula rubra: a marker for the microbial contamination of the bronchoscope. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 16:727–728

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Kiehn TE, Armstrong D (1990) Changes in the spectrum of organisms causing bacteremia and fungemia in immunocompromised patients due to venous access devices. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 9:869–872

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Kiehn TE, Gorey E, Brown AE, Edwards FF, Armstrong D (1992) Sepsis due to Rhodotorula related to use of indwelling central venous catheters. Clin Infect Dis 14:841–846

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Krcmery V, Krupova I, Denning DW (1999) Invasive yeast infections other than Candida spp. in acute leukaemia. J Hosp Infect 41:181–194

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Samonis G, Anatoliotaki M, Apostolakou H, Maraki S, Mavroudis D, Georgoulias V (2001) Transient fungemia due to Rhodotorula rubra in a cancer patient: case report and review of the literature. Infection 29:173–176 DOI: 10.1007/s15010-001-1066-1

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Kaufman D, Boyle R, Hazen KC, Patrie JT, Robinson M, Donowitz LG (2001) Fluconazole prophylaxis against fungal colonization and infection in preterm infants. N Engl J Med 345:1660–1666

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Louria DB, Greenberg SM, Molander DW (1960) Fungemia caused by certain nonpathogenic strains of the family Cryptococcaceae. Report of two cases due to Rhodotorula and Torulopsis glabrata. N Engl J Med 263:1281–1284

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Riopedre RN, De Cesare L, Miatello E, Caría MA, Zapater RC (1960) Aislamiento de Rhodotorula mucilagnosa del L.C.R., heces, orina, exudado faringeo y piel de un lactante de 3 meses. Rev Asoc Med Argent 74:431–434

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Shelburne PF, Carey RJ (1962) Rhodotorula fungemia complicating staphylococcal endocarditis. JAMA 180:118–122

    Google Scholar 

  12. Saiman L, Ludington E, Pfaller M, Rangel-Frausto S, Wiblin T, Dawson J, Blumberg HM, Patterson JE, Rinaldi M, Edwards JE, Wenzel RP, Jarvis W, The National Epidemiology of Mycosis Survey Study Group (2000) Risk factors for candidemia in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit patients. Pediatr Infect Dis J 19:319–324

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Modi N, Carr R (2000) Promising stratagems for reducing the burden of neonatal sepsis. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 83:F150–F153 DOI: 10.1136/fn.83.2.F150

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Gomez-Lopez A, Mellado E, Rodriguez-Tudela JL, Cuenca-Estrella M (2005) Susceptibility profile of 29 clinical isolates of Rhodotorula spp. and literature review. J Antimicrob Chemother 55:312–316 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dki020

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Karlowicz MG, Nickles Hashimoto L, Kelly Jr RE, Buescher ES (2000) Should central venous catheters be removed as soon as candidemia is detected in neonates? Pediatrics 106:e63 DOI: 10.1542/peds.106.5.e63

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, V. Fazzi Regional Hospital, Piazza F. Muratore, 73100, Lecce, Italy

    R. Perniola & R. Longo

  2. Laboratory Medicine Unit, Microbiology Section, V. Fazzi Regional Hospital, Piazza F. Muratore, 73100, Lecce, Italy

    M. L. Faneschi, M. Pizzolante, A. Rizzo & A. Sticchi Damiani

  3. Laboratory Medicine Unit, Microbiology Section, Umberto I–G. M. Lancisi–G. Salesi United Hospitals, University of Ancona, Via Conca, 60020, Torrette di Ancona, AN, Italy

    E. Manso

Authors
  1. R. Perniola
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. L. Faneschi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. E. Manso
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. Pizzolante
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. A. Rizzo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. A. Sticchi Damiani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. R. Longo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to R. Perniola.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Perniola, R., Faneschi, M.L., Manso, E. et al. Rhodotorula mucilaginosa outbreak in neonatal intensive care unit: microbiological features, clinical presentation, and analysis of related variables. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 25, 193–196 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-006-0114-2

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-006-0114-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation