Rhodotorula
From IDWiki
Rhodotorula
Background
Microbiology
- A genus of basidiomycetous yeast
- Primary human pathogens include:
- Rhodotorula mucilaginosa (most common isolate)
- Rhodotorula glutinis
- Rhodotorula minuta
- In culture, have characteristic pink yeast colonies, with a capsule seen on microscopy
- Urease positive
Epidemiology
- Rare
- More common in immunocompromised patients, especially hematologic malignancy, but also solid organ malignancy, transplant, and advanced HIV
Clinical Manifestations
- Most common presentation is with a fungemia
- Mostly central line infection, but also fungemia without focus, and, rarely, endocarditis
- Can cause central line infections in immunocompetent patients
- Endophthalmitis, keratitis, and corneal infection
- Peritoneal-dialysis associated peritonitis
- Rare meningitis and ventriculitis
Management
- Mostly treated with amphotericin B, but also 5-fluorocytosine, ketoconazole, and miconazole
Further Reading
- Rhodotorula infection. A systematic review of 128 cases from literature. Rev Iberoam Micol. 2008;25(3):135-40. pmid: 18785780