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: I Santino, A Alari, S Bono, E Teti, M Marangi, A Bernardini, L Magrini, S Di Somma, A Teggi
• Journal: International journal of immunopathology and pharmacology (Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol) 2014 Jan-Mar Vol. 27 Issue 1 Pg. 143-6 ISSN: 0394-6320 [Print] England
• PMID: 24674691 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Letter)

Chemical References

• Antifungal Agents
• Echinocandins
• Lipopeptides
• Caspofungin

Topics

• Aged, 80 and over
• Antifungal Agents (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Caspofungin
• Catheters, Indwelling (microbiology)
• Clostridioides difficile (drug effects)
• Echinocandins (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous (drug therapy)
• Fungemia (blood, chemically induced, drug therapy, microbiology)
• Humans
• Lipopeptides
• Male
• Probiotics (administration & dosage, adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Saccharomyces cerevisiae (growth & development, isolation & purification)
• Treatment Outcome