Microbiologia Médica e Diagnóstico

Kodamaea ohmeri, An Emerging Yeast in Tunisia: First Identification in Three Case Reports and Literature Review

Abstract

Latifa Mtibaa, Hana Souid, Boutheina Jemli, Zied Hajjej, Chiraz Halweni, Ahmed Rebai, Rania Ben Mhamed, Khemaies Akkari and Mustapha Ferjani

Background: Kodamaea ohmeri or Pichia ohmeri is relatively rare yeast that belongs to ascomycete group and Saccharomycetaceae family. It is recognized as an important pathogenic fungus in immunocompromised hosts.

Methodology: Herein, we describe three cases where Kodamaea ohmeri was isolated in peripheral samples: nasal in one case and auricular in two cases. The identification was carried out by Vitek®2 YST ID card and confirmed by PCR sequencing. Susceptibility to antifungal was made by E-test.

Results: These yeasts were identified K. ohmeri using phenotypic, biochemical and molecular methods. All isolates were susceptible for voriconazole and amphotericin B, resistant for caspofungin and susceptible-dose-dependent for Fluconazole.

Conclusion: These are firsts cases reported in Tunisia which incites to pay more attention to the emergence of this yeast in human pathology since more it develops resistances to antifungals.