Rhodotorula species

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 Presentation

• 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