A blood culture from a neonate on total parenteral nutrition via a central venous catheter grows a yeast that requires exogenous long-chain fatty acids for growth. The organism produces no pseudohyphae or germ tubes. Which organism is most likely?
- A Malassezia furfur ✓
- B Candida parapsilosis
- C Trichosporon asahii
- D Pichia kudriavzevii
Correct answer: A. Malassezia furfur
Explanation
Malassezia furfur is a lipophilic yeast that requires exogenous lipid supplementation (olive oil overlay or lipid-rich media) for in vitro growth, and is associated with catheter-related fungaemia in neonates receiving lipid-containing parenteral nutrition. It causes tinea versicolor and folliculitis in normal hosts. C. parapsilosis is also a catheter-associated infection but does not require exogenous fatty acids. Trichosporon and Pichia are not lipid-dependent.
Reference: Ananthanarayan & Paniker's Textbook of Microbiology, 11th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.