Saccharomyces cerevisiae fungemia in a head and neck cancer patient: a case report and review of the literature

Acta Clin Belg. 2004 Jul-Aug;59(4):220-2. doi: 10.1179/acb.2004.032.

Abstract

We report the case of a 65-year old male who developed Saccharomyces cerevisiae fungemia after completing a course of concomitant chemotherapy and radiation therapy for head and neck carcinoma. He had grade IV oral mucositis, and received Saccharomyces boulardii (Perenterol) orally as treatment for aseptic diarrhoea just before the onset of fungemia. We discuss the epidemiology and pathology of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the cancer patient population.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / immunology*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / therapy
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Fungemia / diagnosis*
  • Fungemia / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host*
  • Male
  • Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / therapy
  • Risk Assessment
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / drug effects
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / isolation & purification*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Yeast, Dried / therapeutic use

Substances

  • perenterol