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Candidemia due to Candida lambica in a neutropenic oncology patient: A rare case report

Summary

A 56-year-old cancer patient developed a rare blood infection caused by an unusual yeast called Candida lambica while receiving chemotherapy. Despite taking antifungal medication for prevention, the patient developed a serious fever and low white blood cell count. Doctors identified the infection through genetic testing and treated it with a different antifungal drug called voriconazole, which successfully cleared the infection.

Background

Candidemia caused by non-albicans Candida species is increasingly recognized in immunocompromised patients. Candida lambica is a rare pathogen that has been historically misidentified as Candida krusei due to morphological similarities. This case highlights the emerging clinical relevance of rare Candida species in immunocompromised hosts.

Objective

To report and characterize a rare case of Candida lambica candidemia in a neutropenic acute myeloid leukemia patient and review the literature on this uncommon pathogen. The report emphasizes the importance of molecular identification and antifungal susceptibility testing for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.

Results

Blood cultures yielded yeast identified as Candida lambica via ITS rDNA sequencing (GenBank OP658919.1). The isolate demonstrated susceptibility to amphotericin B, fluconazole, voriconazole, itraconazole, and caspofungin. Treatment with voriconazole resulted in negative blood cultures by day 14 and clinical improvement, with the patient showing partial recovery after one month of treatment.

Conclusion

This first documented case of C. lambica candidemia in Iran demonstrates the importance of molecular tools in accurate species identification of rare Candida species and the value of antifungal susceptibility testing in guiding targeted therapy. The case contributes to understanding emerging pathogenic roles of rare Candida species in immunocompromised patients.
  • Published in:Medical Mycology Case Reports,
  • Study Type:Case Report,
  • Source: PMID: 40747298, DOI: 10.1016/j.mmcr.2025.100720
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