Malassezia Pachydermatis Fungemia: A Dog-Owner’s Dilemma
,
Abstract
The present case report describes a unique instance of a 70-year-old male presenting with high-grade fever, severe respiratory distress, and drowsiness. He was diagnosed with Malassezia pachydermatis fungemia, attributed to his proximity to pet dogs. Treatment with empirical broad-spectrum antibiotics and echinocandin antifungal agents resulted in no improvement in the patient’s condition. Upon switching to fluconazole, the patient showed gradual improvement after three days and achieved complete resolution of the infection within two weeks. This report highlights a rare case of bloodstream infection caused by Malassezia pachydermatis and underscores the importance of thorough history-taking in diagnosing rare conditions.
[1] Roman J, Bagla P, Ren P, Blanton LS, Berman MA. Malassezia pachydermatis fungemia in an adult with multibacillary
leprosy. Med Mycol Case Rep. 2016;12:1–3. doi: 10.1016/j. mmcr.2016.05.002
[2] Rhimi W, Theelen B, Boekhout T, Otranto D, Cafarchia C. Malassezia spp. yeasts of emerging concern in fungemia.
Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2020;10:370. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00370
[3] Gaitanis G, Magiatis P, Hantschke M, Bassukas ID, Velegraki A. The Malassezia genus in skin and systemic diseases. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2012;25(1):106–41. doi: 10.1128/CMR.00021-11
[4] Lee J, Cho YG, Kim DS, Choi SI, Lee HS. First case of catheterrelated Malassezia pachydermatis fungemia in an adult. Ann Lab Med. 2019;39(1):99–101. doi: 10.3343/alm.2019.39.1.99PMC
[5] Morris DO, O’Shea K, Shofer FS, Rankin S. Malassezia pachydermatis carriage in dog owners. Emerg Infect Dis.
2005;11(1):83–8. doi: 10.3201/eid1101.040632
[6] Chang HJ, Miller HL, Watkins N, Arduino MJ, Ashford DA, Midgley G, et al. An epidemic of Malassezia pachydermatis in an intensive care nursery associated with colonization of health care workers’ pet dogs. N Engl J Med. 1998;338(11):706–11. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199803123381102New England Journal of Medicine
[7] Lautenbach E, Nachamkin I, Schuster MG. Malassezia pachydermatis infections. N Engl J Med. 1998;339(4):270;
author reply 271. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199807233390416
[8] Choudhury S, Marte RL. Malassezia pachydermatis fungaemia in an adult on posaconazole prophylaxis for acute myeloid leukaemia. Pathology. 2014;46(5):466–7. doi: 10.1097/PAT.0000000000000136
[9] Miranda KC, De Araujo CR, Costa CR, Passos XS, De Fátima Lisboa Fernandes O, Do Rosário Rodrigues Silva M. Antifungal activities of azole agents against the Malassezia species. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2007;29(3):281–4. doi: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2006.09.023
[10] Tragiannidis A, Bisping G, Koehler G, Groll AH. Minireview: Malassezia infections in immunocompromised patients.
Mycoses. 2010;53(3):187–95. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0507.2009. 01814.x
leprosy. Med Mycol Case Rep. 2016;12:1–3. doi: 10.1016/j. mmcr.2016.05.002
[2] Rhimi W, Theelen B, Boekhout T, Otranto D, Cafarchia C. Malassezia spp. yeasts of emerging concern in fungemia.
Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2020;10:370. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00370
[3] Gaitanis G, Magiatis P, Hantschke M, Bassukas ID, Velegraki A. The Malassezia genus in skin and systemic diseases. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2012;25(1):106–41. doi: 10.1128/CMR.00021-11
[4] Lee J, Cho YG, Kim DS, Choi SI, Lee HS. First case of catheterrelated Malassezia pachydermatis fungemia in an adult. Ann Lab Med. 2019;39(1):99–101. doi: 10.3343/alm.2019.39.1.99PMC
[5] Morris DO, O’Shea K, Shofer FS, Rankin S. Malassezia pachydermatis carriage in dog owners. Emerg Infect Dis.
2005;11(1):83–8. doi: 10.3201/eid1101.040632
[6] Chang HJ, Miller HL, Watkins N, Arduino MJ, Ashford DA, Midgley G, et al. An epidemic of Malassezia pachydermatis in an intensive care nursery associated with colonization of health care workers’ pet dogs. N Engl J Med. 1998;338(11):706–11. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199803123381102New England Journal of Medicine
[7] Lautenbach E, Nachamkin I, Schuster MG. Malassezia pachydermatis infections. N Engl J Med. 1998;339(4):270;
author reply 271. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199807233390416
[8] Choudhury S, Marte RL. Malassezia pachydermatis fungaemia in an adult on posaconazole prophylaxis for acute myeloid leukaemia. Pathology. 2014;46(5):466–7. doi: 10.1097/PAT.0000000000000136
[9] Miranda KC, De Araujo CR, Costa CR, Passos XS, De Fátima Lisboa Fernandes O, Do Rosário Rodrigues Silva M. Antifungal activities of azole agents against the Malassezia species. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2007;29(3):281–4. doi: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2006.09.023
[10] Tragiannidis A, Bisping G, Koehler G, Groll AH. Minireview: Malassezia infections in immunocompromised patients.
Mycoses. 2010;53(3):187–95. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0507.2009. 01814.x
| Files | ||
| Issue | Vol 9 No 6 (2024): November-December | |
| Section | Case Report(s) | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.18502/crcp.v9i6.18942 | |
| Keywords | ||
| Malassezia pachydermatis Fungemia Dogs Bloodstream infections | ||
| Rights and permissions | |
|
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |
How to Cite
1.
Bandyopadhyay S, Dastidar A, Chandra S, Singhal P. Malassezia Pachydermatis Fungemia: A Dog-Owner’s Dilemma. CRCP. 2025;9(6):244-247.
