title: Clinical and microbiological characteristics of Rhodotorula mucilaginosa infections in a tertiary-care facility.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rhodotorula spp. are an emergent opportunistic pathogen, particularly in immunocompromised individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  The aim of the study was to review reported cases of Rhodotorula infection over a period of 9 years to determine epidemiology, risk factors, treatment and outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Rhodotorula spp. were isolated from cerebrospinal fluid (9) and blood (5). The most common pre-disposing factors were prolonged hospital stay (>1 month) and prolonged usage of broad-spectrum antibiotics (>1 month). All the isolates were identified as R. mucilaginosa by conventional methods. Amphotericin B demonstrated lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) as compared with other anti-fungal agents (fluconazole, itraconazole and voriconazole).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The recognition of unusual yeasts as an agent of life-threatening infection and their intrinsic resistance increases the burden on the mycology laboratory for complete species identification and to determine minimum inhibitory concentration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Vardhman Mahaveer Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Capoor
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aggarwal
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Raghvan
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chaudhary
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001769:Blood / Q000382:microbiology; D020314:Central Nervous System Fungal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D016469:Fungemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D012248:Rhodotorula / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012307:Risk Factors; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents