Infections by the yeast Kodomaea (Pichia) ohmeri: two cases and literature review

Abstract

A 14-year-old boy who was neutropenic following chemotherapy for leukemia developed fungemia caused by the yeast Kodomaea ohmeri ( Pichia ohmeri). The infection was cured by catheter removal and the use of fluconazole. A 74-year-old man who had undergone surgeries for a subcutaneous tumor developed polymicrobic cellulitis involving Kodomaea ohmeri. Despite surgical debridement and antibiotic therapy, the patient died of complications. Including these 2 cases, there have been 10 Kodomaea ohmeri infections reported thus far, all occurring in patients with pre-existing conditions. There have been seven cases of fungemia and one case each of peritonitis, funguria, and cellulitis. The treatment employed varied depending on the site/source of infection. Seven patients recovered and three died. The microbiological data available suggest that Kodomaea ohmeri can be identified definitively by biochemical tests and is susceptible to amphotericin B and either susceptible to or dose dependently susceptible to itraconazole and fluconazole.