[Hansenula anomala infection in acute leukemia]

Abstract

Hansenula anomala infection is a clinical rarity which has only been reported in 21 cases. Although most reported cases had one or more of the risk factors of fungemia, only three developed in hematological patients. In the present study we report two cases of Hansenula anomala infection in acute leukemia, one in its teleomorphic form and another in the asexual form of this yeast, Candida pelliculosa. The sustained chemotherapy and steroid and antibiotic treatment were some of the risk factors of fungemia which were present in these patients, one of which was a carrier of a central venous catheter. As it has been suggested that Hansenula anomala has a low virulence and a high susceptibility to amphotericin B, we emphasize the potential morbidity and mortality that this organism can induce in patients with hematological disease.