Outbreak of Saccharomyces cerevisiae subtype boulardii fungemia in patients neighboring those treated with a probiotic preparation of the organism.
We report an outbreak of Saccharomyces cerevisiae subtype boulardii fungemia among three intensive care unit roommates of patients receiving lyophilized preparations of this fungus. The fungemia was probably due to central venous catheter contamination and resolved after fluconazole treatment. The need for stringent application of proper hygiene when using a probiotic preparation of this organism is emphasized.
Cassone
Marco
M
III Clinica Medica, Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica, Università degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza, Rome, Italy. mcassone@libero.it
Serra
Pietro
P
Mondello
Francesca
F
Girolamo
Antonietta
A
Scafetti
Sandro
S
Pistella
Eleonora
E
Venditti
Mario
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009181:Mycoses / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012384:Rome / Q000453:epidemiology; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D015002:Yeast, Dried / Q000009:adverse effects*