Case Series of Kodamaea ohmeri: An Emerging Fungal Infection in Srinagarind Hospital, Thailand

Natapong Manomaiwong¹, Waewta Kuwatjanakul², Atibordee Meesing^1,3, Kittipan Samerpitak4, Lumyai Wonglakorn², Wantin Sribenjalux^1,3

Affiliation : ¹ Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand ² Microbiology Unit, Clinical Laboratory Section, Srinagarind Hospital Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand ³ Research and Diagnostic Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases (RCEID), Khon Kaen University, Thailand ⁴ Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Thailand

Kodamaea ohmeri, a yeast species within the Saccharomycetaceae family, has been an emerging pathogen in recent decades, leading to an increasing number of human infections, particularly in immunocompromised patients. Fungemia caused by K. ohmeri is associated with a high mortality rate of 31%. The present study presents three cases of K. ohmeri infections at Srinagarind Hospital, involving children and the elderly with comorbidities such as essential hypertension, diabetes, or neutropenia. These patients underwent surgeries, experienced complications necessitating antibiotic administration, and most received central venous catheterization. Subsequently, they developed new-onset high fever, K. ohmeri was identified in hemocultures, and antifungal treatment was initiated. Notably, there are currently no recommended treatments, and no reported cases of K. ohmeri infection in Thailand have been documented to date. This case series emphasizes the exploration of infection risks and treatment considerations for further study.

Received 31 January 2024 | Revised 25 March 2024 | Accepted 15 July 2024
DOI: 10.35755/Jmedassocthai.2024.S01.S147-S151

Keywords : Kodamaea ohmeri; Emerging pathogen; Fungemia; Thailand

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