Torulopsis glabrata pelvic abscess and fungemia.
BACKGROUND
Serious infections caused by Torulopsis glabrata, once rarely encountered, have become common over the last 3 decades. The most frequent manifestations of serious fungal infections include septicemia, endocarditis, hepatosplenic infections, and meningitis. We report a case of fungemia and pelvic abscess caused by T glabrata following gynecologic surgery.


METHODS
A 43-year-old woman developed fever, abdominal pain, and abdominal distention following a total abdominal hysterectomy and right salpingo-oophorectomy. Empirical treatment with broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents was not successful. Three sets of blood cultures were positive for T glabrata, and radiologic investigations revealed pelvic and lesser sac fluid collections. Cultures of the pelvic abscess grew T glabrata. Treatment was changed to amphotericin B, with complete clinical recovery.


CONCLUSIONS
Serious T glabrata infections are rare following gynecologic surgery, especially in immunocompetent patients. Given the morbidity and mortality associated with these infections, aggressive treatment with amphotericin B and drainage of abscesses is warranted.
Wiesenfeld
H C
HC
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pennsylvania.
Berg
S R
SR
Sweet
R L
RL
D000038:Abscess / Q000209:etiology*; D000328:Adult; D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D016469:Fungemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D010388:Pelvis; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*
D000666:Amphotericin B