Rare fungal bloodstream infections in pediatric patients: a case series.

Abstract

Fungemia caused by rare fungal species has been increasingly recognized in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent children. Our aim is to characterize the clinical and microbiological features of rare fungal bloodstream infections in hospitalized pediatric patients. A retrospective, descriptive study was conducted including all cases of fungemia due to rare yeasts in patients admitted to two tertiary pediatric hospitals between 2021 and 2025. Fungal species identification, anatomical sites of infection, antifungal therapeutic regimens, and clinical outcomes were systematically analyzed. In total, 13 cases of rare fungal bloodstream infections were identified among 13 patients from 2,555 blood cultures obtained during the study period, representing an incidence of 0.5%. The predominant species isolated were Saccharomyces cerevisiae (n=5), Wickerhamomyces anomalus (n=3), Candid orthopsilosis (n=2), Yarrowia lipolytica (n=1), Meyerozyma guilliermondii (n=1), and Trichosporon asahii (n=1). The median age at infection was 31 months (range: 0-178 months), with 92.3% (12/13) of patients presenting underlying medical conditions. The median interval from hospital admission to fungemia onset was 19 days (range: 0-73 days). Amphotericin B deoxycholate was the most frequently employed initial antifungal agent (n=5), followed by liposomal amphotericin B (n=4). Modification of antifungal therapy was required in five cases (38.5%). Microbiological clearance was achieved in all patients on subsequent blood cultures. The 30-day all-cause mortality rate was 15.4% (2/13). We concluded that rare fungal bloodstream infections occurred predominantly in patients with underlying comorbidities and prolonged hospital stays; nevertheless, the majority showed favorable clinical responses with appropriate antifungal therapy and achieved fungal eradication from the bloodstream.