Nosocomial Trichosporon asahii fungemia in a patient with secondary hemochromatosis: a rare case report

Abstract

Trichosporon asahii (formerly known as T. beigelii) is an emerging, life-threatening opportunistic pathogen, especially in severely granulocytopenic patients with underlying hematological malignancies. Other reported predisposing factors for infection with this pathogen include organ transplantation, extensive burns, human immunodeficiency virus infection, corticosteroid therapy, prosthetic valve surgery, and peritoneal dialysis. We report a 53-year-old nongranulocytopenic female with secondary hemochromatosis, who developed nosocomial fungemia caused by T. asahii. This case suggests that clinicians should be aware that T. asahii fungemia can develop in nongranulocytopenic patients with secondary hemochromatosis.