A yeast isolated from the blood of a preterm neonate receiving parenteral nutrition through a central venous catheter fails to grow on routine Sabouraud dextrose agar. It grows only when the medium is overlaid with olive oil. Which organism is responsible?
- A Candida parapsilosis
- B Malassezia furfur ✓
- C Trichosporon asahii
- D Cryptococcus laurentii
Correct answer: B. Malassezia furfur
Explanation
Malassezia species are lipid-dependent yeasts that require long-chain fatty acids for growth, so cultures must be incubated on media supplemented with olive oil or Tweens. This explains catheter-related fungaemia in patients receiving intravenous lipid emulsions. Candida parapsilosis is also associated with parenteral nutrition catheters but grows readily on ordinary SDA without lipid supplement, which kills this distractor.
Reference: Medical Mycology by Jagdish Chander, 3rd ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
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