Yeast central nervous system infection in a critically ill patient: a case report

• Published in: Journal of medical case reports 2014-07, Vol.8 (1), p.253-253, Article 253
• Main Authors: Frantzeskaki, Frantzeska, Diakaki, Chryssi, Rizos, Michalis, Theodorakopoulou, Maria, Papadopoulos, Panagiotis, Antonopoulou, Anastasia, Nikitas, Nikitas, Lignos, Michail, Brountzos, Elias, Velegraki, Aristea, Paramythiotou, Elisabeth, Panagyotides, John, Armaganidis, Apostolos, Dimopoulos, George
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Antifungal Agents - therapeutic use; Biopsy; Care and treatment; Case Report; Case studies; Central Nervous System Fungal Infections - diagnosis; Central Nervous System Fungal Infections - drug therapy; Central Nervous System Fungal Infections - microbiology; Critical Illness; Diagnosis, Differential; Diagnostic Imaging; Health aspects; Hodgkin Disease; Humans; Immunocompromised Host; Infection; Male; Risk factors
• ISSN: 1752-1947; 1752-1947
• DOI: 10.1186/1752-1947-8-253

Invasive fungal infections are alarmingly common in intensive care unit patients; invasive fungal infections are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Risk factors are the increased use of indwelling central venous catheters, the use of broad spectrum antibiotics, parenteral nutrition, renal replacement therapy and immunosuppression. Diagnosis of these infections might be complicated, requiring tissue cultures. In addition, therapy of invasive fungal infections might be difficult, given the rising resistance of fungi to antifungal agents. We describe the case of a 28-year-old Greek man with yeast central nervous system infection. Difficult-to-treat fungal infections may complicate the clinical course of critically ill patients and render their prognosis unfavorable. This report presents a case that was rare and difficult to treat, along with a thorough review of the investigation and treatment of these kinds of fungal infections in critically ill patients.