Hematogenous dissemination of Candida dubliniensis causing spondylodiscitis and spinal abscess in a HIV-1 and HCV-coinfected patient

Helmut J F Salzer; Thierry Rolling; Eva-Maria Klupp; Stefan Schmiedel

doi:10.1016/j.mmcr.2015.02.001

Hematogenous dissemination of Candida dubliniensis causing spondylodiscitis and spinal abscess in a HIV-1 and HCV-coinfected patient

Med Mycol Case Rep. 2015 Feb 24:8:17-20. doi: 10.1016/j.mmcr.2015.02.001. eCollection 2015 Jun.

Authors

Helmut J F Salzer¹, Thierry Rolling¹, Eva-Maria Klupp², Stefan Schmiedel¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Internal Medicine I, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
² Institute of Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.

Abstract

We report a case of spondylodiscitis and spinal abscess following haematogenous dissemination of the emerging yeast Candida dubliniensis in a human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) and hepatitis C virus (HCV)-coinfected patient. Although C. dubliniensis is considered less virulent compared to its closest known relative Candida albicans, reports of severe fungal infections are increasing. This case indicates that the pathogenicity of C. dubliniensis may be higher than previously believed. Therefore fungal infections caused by this dimorph fungus should be kept in mind in immunocompromised patients with spondylodiscitis and spinal abscess.

Keywords: Candida dubliniensis; Hepatitis C virus; Human immunodeficiency virus-1; Spinal abscess; Spondylodiscitis.