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Subcutaneous mycosis and fungemia by Aureobasidium pullulans: a rare pathogenic fungus in a post allogeneic BM transplant patient

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 45, pages 203–204 (2010)Cite this article

Fungal infections in BM transplant patients are being seen with greater frequency than ever before. The most common fungal organisms isolated are Candida, followed by the Aspergillus species. In addition, a growing list of unusual and unexpected etiological agents presents a unique and difficult challenge to clinicians and microbiologists. Aureobasidium is a demataceous fungus commonly isolated from soil and the indoor air environment. This genus includes 14 species, among which, Aureobasidium pullulans is the only well-known pathogen causing s.c. infection or phaehyphomycosis.1 We report a case of systemic A. pullulans infection during the first week of allogeneic stem cell transplant.

This is probably the first case report of A. pullulans fungemia after allogeneic stem cell transplant to our knowledge. In our case, the blood culture initially grew yeast-like colonies suggestive of Candida species. However, on subculture, the characteristic colony morphology (moist and creamy colonies in 2 days, which matured into shiny brownish black colonies with a gray fringe and pigment production) was suggestive of A. pullulans fungemia. The source of fungemia in this patient was the central venous catheter.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Oncology, BMT Unit, Advanced Center for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer, Tata Memorial Center, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, India

    A Joshi, R Singh, M S Shah & N Khattry

  2. Department of Microbiology, Advanced Center for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer, Tata Memorial Center, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, India. E-mail: dramit74@yahoo.com,

    S Umesh

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  1. A Joshi
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  2. R Singh
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Joshi, A., Singh, R., Shah, M. et al. Subcutaneous mycosis and fungemia by Aureobasidium pullulans: a rare pathogenic fungus in a post allogeneic BM transplant patient. Bone Marrow Transplant 45, 203–204 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/bmt.2009.111

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