MYCOLab Ai Logo - gold and army green

First case of fungemia caused by a rare and pan-echinocandin resistant yeast Sporopachydermia lactativora in China

Summary

A 37-year-old woman with leukemia developed a rare blood infection caused by a yeast called Sporopachydermia lactativora, which had never been documented to cause bloodstream infection in China before. This yeast is naturally resistant to a common class of antifungal drugs called echinocandins, making it particularly challenging to treat. However, the patient responded well to a different antifungal medication called voriconazole and fully recovered. The researchers suggest that this unusual yeast should be monitored in hospitals as it could become a more common infection in vulnerable patients.

Background

Sporopachydermia species are traditionally considered cactophilic yeasts that are intrinsically resistant to echinocandins. While primarily found in environmental niches, human infections caused by Sporopachydermia are rare, with only sporadic cases reported globally. Prior to this case, only one S. lactativora infection had been documented, occurring in a drug abuser with pulmonary infection in 2021.

Objective

This study reports the first case of fungemia caused by S. lactativora in China and aims to explore its genetic and pathogenic features. The researchers sought to determine whether potential transmission of S. lactativora strains between environmental and clinical settings could occur and to evaluate the pathogenicity of this emerging fungal pathogen.

Results

The S. lactativora strain exhibited pan-echinocandin resistance with high MICs for caspofungin (16.0 µg/mL), anidulafungin (4.0 µg/mL), and micafungin (4.0 µg/mL), but remained susceptible to azoles, amphotericin B, and 5-fluorocytosine. Phylogenetic analysis revealed two genetic clades including strains from both environmental and clinical settings, indicating potential transmission between niches. Mouse infection studies showed S. lactativora could colonize multiple organs with dose-dependent virulence comparable to C. auris at higher inocula.

Conclusion

S. lactativora represents a new emerging opportunistic pathogen in humans that should not be ignored in clinical settings due to its pan-echinocandin resistance and tissue colonization ability. The patient responded well to voriconazole treatment and was successfully discharged. Sporopachydermia species warrant clinical awareness as potential human pathogens, particularly in immunocompromised patients.
  • Published in:Mycology,
  • Study Type:Case Report,
  • Source: PMID: 40415907, DOI: 10.1080/21501203.2024.2418111
Scroll to Top