Trichosporon beigelii, an emerging pathogen resistant to amphotericin B.

Abstract

Trichosporon beigelii caused fatal disseminated infections that were resistant to amphotericin B in two granulocytopenic patients. In vitro susceptibility studies demonstrated that both index strains of T. beigelii were inhibited but not killed by amphotericin B at achievable concentrations in serum. The minimum lethal concentration for both isolates was greater than or equal to 18 micrograms/ml. Five of seven other isolates were found to have a similar pattern of amphotericin B resistance. The fact that the minimum lethal concentration of T. beigelii was many times greater than its MIC was consistent with a resistance pattern of tolerance. We concluded that T. beigelii may be resistant in vitro to amphotericin B and that this in vitro resistance was correlated with refractory, disseminated trichosporonosis in granulocytopenic patients. T. beigelii should be included in the expanding list of amphotericin B-resistant fungi.

• Authors: T J Walsh, G P Melcher, M G Rinaldi, J Lecciones, D A McGough, P Kelly, J Lee, D Callender, M Rubin, P A Pizzo
• Journal: Journal of clinical microbiology (J Clin Microbiol) Vol. 28 Issue 7 Pg. 1616-22 (Jul 1990) ISSN: 0095-1137 [Print] United States
• PMID: 2380383 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Amphotericin B

Topics

• Adolescent
• Aged
• Agranulocytosis (complications)
• Amphotericin B (pharmacology)
• Anemia, Aplastic (complications)
• Drug Resistance, Microbial
• Humans
• Male
• Microbial Sensitivity Tests
• Mitosporic Fungi (drug effects)
• Mycoses (complications, drug therapy)
• Opportunistic Infections (complications)
• Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma (complications)
• Trichosporon (drug effects, pathogenicity)