Published in:
Open Access 01-12-2020 | Acute Myeloid Leukemia | Case report
Case report: Candida krusei spondylitis in an immunocompromised patient
Published in: BMC Infectious Diseases | Issue 1/2020
Login to get accessAbstract
Background
Invasive infections with Candida krusei are uncommon and rarely complicated by spondylitis. Previous described cases were solely treated with antimycotic therapy, despite guidelines recommending surgical interventions.
Case presentation
We describe a case of C. krusei spondylitis in a patient treated with chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia. After induction chemotherapy, the patient developed a candidemia, which was treated with micafungin. One month after the candidemia, the patient was admitted with severe lumbar pain. Spondylitis of the L4 and L5 vertebra was diagnosed on MR-imaging, with signs suggesting an atypical infection. The patient was treated with anidulafungin combined with voriconazole. Despite maximal conservative management symptoms gradually worsened eventually requiring surgical intervention.
Conclusions
In contrast to previous case reports, antimycotic treatment alone could be insufficient in treating C. krusei spondylitis.