Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Slime production by clinical isolates of Blastoschizomyces capitatus from patients with hematological malignancies and catheter-related fungemia

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

Abstract

In order to expand the present knowledge of the pathogenic potential of Blastoschizomyces capitatus in central venous catheter (CVC)-related bloodstream infections, six strains of the organism recovered from three leukemic patients with CVC-related fungemia in different years were investigated. Isolates and control strains were tested for their genetic relatedness and for their ability to produce slime in glucose-containing solutions. DNA restriction enzyme analysis revealed that all strains of B. capitatus were identical, whereas slime production assays and examination of ex vivo material showed that they were able to produce large amounts of slime. Slime production may therefore play a relevant pathogenic role in cases of CVC-related fungemia caused by B. capitatus.

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

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Chamel H (1993) Fungal infections in the immunocompromised host: clinical syndromes and diagnosis. In: Murphy JW, Friedman H, Bendinelli M (eds) Fungal infections and immune responses. Plenum, New York, pp 405–424

    Google Scholar 

  2. Goldmann DA, Pier GB (1993) Pathogenesis of infections related to intravascular catheterization. Clin Microbiol Rev 6:176–192

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. D’Antonio D, Romano F, Pontieri E et al (2002) Catheter-related candidemia caused by Candida lipolytica in a patient receiving allogenic bone marrow transplantation. J Clin Microbiol 40:1381–1386

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Lecciones JA, Lee JW, Navarro EE et al (1992) Vascular catheter-associated fungemia in patients with cancer: analysis of 155 episodes. Clin Infect Dis 14:875–883

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Polacheck I, Salkin IF, Kitzes-Cohen R, Raz R (1992) Endocarditis caused by Blastoschizomyces capitatus and taxonomic review of the genus. J Clin Microbiol 30:2318–2322

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Martino R, Salavert M, Parody R et al (2004) Blastoschizomyces capitatus infection in patients with leukemia: report of 26 cases. Clin Infect Dis 38:335–341

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. D’Antonio D, Piccolomini R, Fioritoni G et al (1994) Osteomyelitis and intervertebral discitis caused by Blastoschizomyces capitatus in a patient with acute leukemia. J Clin Microbiol 32:224–227

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Maki DG, Weise CE, Sarafin HW (1977) A semiquantitative culture method for identifying catheter-related infections. N Eng J Med 296:1305–1309

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Branchini ML, Pfaller MA, Rhine-Chalberg J, Frempong T, Isenberg HD (1994) Genotypic variation and slime production among blood and catheter isolates of Candida parapsilosis. J Clin Microbiol 32:452–456

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Pontieri E, Sferra R, Vetuschi A et al (1998) Variation of slime production and ultrastructural analysis in clinical and soil isolates of Candida parapsilosis. Microb Ecol Health Dis 10:17–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Malick LE, Wilson RB (1975) Modified thiocarbohydrazide procedure for scanning electron microscopy: routine use for normal, pathological, or experimental tissues. Stain Technol 50:265–269

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Marrie TJ, Costerton JH (1984) Scanning and transmission electron microscopy of in situ bacterial colonization of intravenous and intra-arterial catheters. J Clin Microbiol 19:687–693

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Carruba G, Pontieri E, De Bernardis F, Martino P, Cassone A (1991) DNA fingerprinting and electrophoretic karyotype of environmental and clinical isolates of Candida parapsilosis. J Clin Microbiol 29:916–922

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Pfaller MA, Messer SA, Hollis RJ (1995) Variations in DNA subtype, antifungal susceptibility and slime production among clinical isolates of Candida parapsilosis. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 21:9–14

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We are indebted to R.M. Mancini, for careful editing of the manuscript.

All of the authors are funded by ordinary institutional grants without any specific reward for this publication. Editorial expenses are covered by the Associazione Donatori Sangue (FIDAS), Via Fonte Romana 8, 65100 Pescara, Italy.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unità Operativa di Microbiologia e Virologia Clinica, Dipartimento di Ematologia ed Oncologia, Ospedale “Spirito Santo”, Via Fonte Romana 8, 65100, Pescara, Italy

    D. D’Antonio

  2. Unità Operativa di Malattie Infettive, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, Ospedale “Spirito Santo”, Via Fonte Romana 8, 65100, Pescara, Italy

    G. Parruti

  3. Cattedra di Virologia e Micologia Medica, Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Università degli Studi de L’Aquila, Coppito Due, 67100, L’Aquila, Italy

    E. Pontieri

  4. Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Laboratorio di Microbiologia Clinica, Università G. D’Annunzio, Via dei Vestini, 66100, Chieti, Italy

    G. Di Bonaventura & R. Piccolomini

  5. Dipartimento di Medicina e Scienze dell’Invecchiamento, Sezione di Epidemiologia e Sanità Pubblica, Università G. D’Annunzio, Via dei Vestini, 66100, Chieti, Italy

    L. Manzoli, F. Romano & T. Staniscia

  6. Cattedra di Anatomia Umana e Clinica, Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Università degli Studi de L’Aquila, Coppito Due, 67100, L’Aquila, Italy

    R. Sferra & A. Vetuschi

Authors
  1. D. D’Antonio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. G. Parruti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. E. Pontieri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. G. Di Bonaventura
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. L. Manzoli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. R. Sferra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. A. Vetuschi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. R. Piccolomini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. F. Romano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. T. Staniscia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to D. D’Antonio.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

D’Antonio, D., Parruti, G., Pontieri, E. et al. Slime production by clinical isolates of Blastoschizomyces capitatus from patients with hematological malignancies and catheter-related fungemia. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 23, 787–789 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-004-1207-4

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-004-1207-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation