Meningitis caused by Rhodotorula mucilaginosa in human immunodeficiency virus seropositive patient

Abstract

Rhodotorula species may be responsible for systemic infection in immunocompromised patients. Meningitis by Rhodotorula species in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected persons has been reported previously. We report a case of meningitis caused by Rhodotorula mucilaginosa in a 36-year-old HIV seropositive male patient who presented with fever, altered sensorium and features of meningeal irritation i.e. neck rigidity. The Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cell counts were high, showing 150 cells/mm3, with 60% lymphocytes and 40% polymorphs, and protein content of 100 mg%; glucose was 60 mg%. The diagnosis was confirmed by culture on Sabouraud's Dextrose agar. The patient was treated successfully with intensive Amphotericin B (1 mg/kg), for two weeks, followed by oral Itraconazole (400 mg daily), for a period of two months. The patient was started on anti retroviral therapy. He did not show any relapse of the symptoms when the last follow up was done six months after the date of discharge.

Clinical and microbiological characteristics of Rhodotorula mucilaginosa infections in a tertiary-Care facility

“…[10] Documented Rhodotorula infections include fungaemia (79%), endocarditis, eye infections (7.03%) (keratitis, endopthalmitis, dacryocystitis, corneal infections), ventriculitis, meningitis (3.9%), peritonitis, etc., Rare cases include hydrosalphingitis, orthopaedic prosthesis infection, disseminated infection with bone-marrow involvement. [11,12] But few epidemiological studies have described Rhodotorula as the aetiological agent in 0.5-2.3% cases of fungaemia. [3,13,14] In this study from 2002 to 2010, 14 isolates of Rhodotorula were isolated.…”

ESCMID and ECMM joint clinical guidelines for the diagnosis and management of rare invasive yeast infections

“…Opportunistic fungal infections due to Rhodotorula have emerged after the first case was reported in 1985, and the most common predisposing factor appears to be the presence of a CVC and underlying haematological disease [28,127,[130][131][132][133][134][135]. However, Rhodotorula fungaemia, peritonitis, endocarditis or meningitis have also been reported in other vulnerable patient groups, including patients with AIDS, extensive burns, continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, cirrhosis, those who have undergone intra-abdominal surgery, intravenous drug abusers and critically ill ICU patients [130,[136][137][138][139][140][141][142][143][144][145][146]. Notably, a significant number of cases are breakthrough infections during fluconazole or echinocandin treatment [131,134,135,147,148].…”

DNA Barcoding of Yeasts from Selected Bulgarian Food Products

“…Also, there are data showing correlation between presence of yeasts in foods and allergic and hypersensitive reactions in humans (3,7). Moreover, individuals with weakened health and immune system (AIDS and cancer patients) are at greatest risk of yeast infections caused by Kluyveromyces marxianus, Saccaromyces serevisiae and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa (1,6,8,16).…”