title: Saccharomyces cerevisiae fungemia, a possible consequence of the treatment of Clostridium difficile colitis with a probioticum.
abstract: The yeast Saccharomyces boulardii is a biotherapeutic agent used for the prevention and treatment of several gastrointestinal diseases, such as diarrhoea caused by Clostridium difficile, in addition to the antibiotic therapy. In this study we report a case of Saccharomyces cerevisiae fungemia in a patient with Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhoea (CDAD) treated orally with S. boulardii in association with vancomycin. The identification of the S. cerevisiae was confirmed by molecular technique. Fungemia is a rare, but a serious complication to treatment with probiotics. We believe it is important to remind the clinicians of this risk when prescribing probiotics, especially to immunocompromised patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Santino
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alari
authors.affiliation: GENOMA Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bono
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Teti
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marangi
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bernardini
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Magrini
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Di Somma
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Teggi
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077336:Caspofungin; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000382:microbiology; D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000187:drug effects*; D054714:Echinocandins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016469:Fungemia / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D055666:Lipopeptides; D008297:Male; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D054714:Echinocandins; D055666:Lipopeptides; D000077336:Caspofungin