Case report

Saccharomyces cerevisiae fungaemia associated to multiple foci pneumonia in a patient affected by alcohol-related hepatic cirrhosis
Montineri Arturo, Iacobello Carmelo, Larocca Licia, La Rosa Rosario, Nigro Luciano, Fatuzzo Filippo
Saccharomyces cerevisiae is usually considered non-pathogenic and has rarely been reported as a cause of fungaemia in immunocompromised patients, especially those admitted to an intensive care unit or those affected by acquired immune deficiency syndrome or under immunosuppressive treatment. In all described cases the use of probiotic yeast has been given as the main risk factor. We report a case of S. cerevisiae sepsis complicated by pneumonia in a patient affected by alcohol-related cirrhosis with no evidence of probiotic drug intake. In this case recovery was obtained after a treatment course with liposomal amphotericin B. S. cerevisiae should be taken into consideration when sepsis lacks to isolate any aetiological agent.

Page 227-229 - Vol.16 N. 4 - 2008