Disseminated fungal infection due to Saprochaete clavata in a kidney transplant recipient
Saprochaete clavata and Saprochaete capitata are closely related fungal species (family Dipodascaceae,
order Saccharomycetales) that are rarely involved in the etiology of systemic infections in humans. In
recent years, these yeasts are emerging as cause of life-threatening infections in patients with severe
neutropenia and haematological malignancies. Infections by these fungi have been reported mostly from
Mediterranean countries. To the best of our knowledge, only 2 cases of infection due to S. capitata have
been reported in solid organ transplant recipients and none due to S. clavata. Herein we report a fatal case
of S. clavata disseminated infection occurring in a patient with recent kidney transplantation and severe
neutropenia. Patient was receiving antifungal echinocandin prophylaxis and the yeast was isolated from
the blood and multiple non contiguous sites. Saprochaete spp. should be considered in the differential
diagnosis of invasive mycoses in transplant recipients, especially if they are neutropenic and living or
travelling in Mediterranean countries.