Systemic protothecosis in an immunocompetent patient
Abstract Background Although uncommon, there is increasing interest and public health concerns of the pathogen Prototheca spp, a ubiquitous achlorophilic microalgae that can affect both humans and animals. High mortality rates have been reported in immunocompromised patients with disseminated infect...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Tropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40794-022-00180-8 |
| _version_ | 1817983994857259008 |
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| author | Alvano Trespalacios Sierra Bárbara Arroyo-Salgado Jesús Rodriguez-Blanco Ingrid Tibocha Gordon María Cristina Martínez-Ávila |
| author_facet | Alvano Trespalacios Sierra Bárbara Arroyo-Salgado Jesús Rodriguez-Blanco Ingrid Tibocha Gordon María Cristina Martínez-Ávila |
| author_sort | Alvano Trespalacios Sierra |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Although uncommon, there is increasing interest and public health concerns of the pathogen Prototheca spp, a ubiquitous achlorophilic microalgae that can affect both humans and animals. High mortality rates have been reported in immunocompromised patients with disseminated infection, but no data is available in the immunocompetent population. Case Presentation We present the case of a 59-year-old man from rural area of Colombia who was admitted to the intensive care unit due to decompensated heart failure that was difficult to medically manage, with development of septic shock and isolation of Prototheca wickerhamii from blood culture. Fluconazole and Amphotericin B were given with successful outcome. Conclusions To date, protothecosis and its virulence factors and pathogenesis remain to be fully understood, in our case the isolation of this microalga and its implication of exacerbating chronic conditions such as heart failure is unclear. The medical-scientific community is invited to study this microorganism to determine effective management strategies, as well as its timely identification, treatment, and control, to avoid fatal outcomes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T23:39:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-03e7ce5d3ef94943bc1f2126fea02556 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2055-0936 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T23:39:29Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Tropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines |
| spelling | doaj.art-03e7ce5d3ef94943bc1f2126fea025562022-12-22T02:24:33ZengBMCTropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines2055-09362022-10-01811510.1186/s40794-022-00180-8Systemic protothecosis in an immunocompetent patientAlvano Trespalacios Sierra0Bárbara Arroyo-Salgado1Jesús Rodriguez-Blanco2Ingrid Tibocha Gordon3María Cristina Martínez-Ávila4Intensive Care Unit, Nuevo Hospital BocagrandeBiomedical, Toxicological and Environmental Sciences Research Group (Biotoxam), Universidad de CartagenaIntensive Care Unit, Nuevo Hospital BocagrandeEmergency Department, Nuevo Hospital BocagrandeBiomedical, Toxicological and Environmental Sciences Research Group (Biotoxam), Universidad de CartagenaAbstract Background Although uncommon, there is increasing interest and public health concerns of the pathogen Prototheca spp, a ubiquitous achlorophilic microalgae that can affect both humans and animals. High mortality rates have been reported in immunocompromised patients with disseminated infection, but no data is available in the immunocompetent population. Case Presentation We present the case of a 59-year-old man from rural area of Colombia who was admitted to the intensive care unit due to decompensated heart failure that was difficult to medically manage, with development of septic shock and isolation of Prototheca wickerhamii from blood culture. Fluconazole and Amphotericin B were given with successful outcome. Conclusions To date, protothecosis and its virulence factors and pathogenesis remain to be fully understood, in our case the isolation of this microalga and its implication of exacerbating chronic conditions such as heart failure is unclear. The medical-scientific community is invited to study this microorganism to determine effective management strategies, as well as its timely identification, treatment, and control, to avoid fatal outcomes.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40794-022-00180-8Emerging diseasesprotothecosisPrototheca wickerhamiialgaemiatreatment |
| spellingShingle | Alvano Trespalacios Sierra Bárbara Arroyo-Salgado Jesús Rodriguez-Blanco Ingrid Tibocha Gordon María Cristina Martínez-Ávila Systemic protothecosis in an immunocompetent patient Tropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines Emerging diseases protothecosis Prototheca wickerhamii algaemia treatment |
| title | Systemic protothecosis in an immunocompetent patient |
| title_full | Systemic protothecosis in an immunocompetent patient |
| title_fullStr | Systemic protothecosis in an immunocompetent patient |
| title_full_unstemmed | Systemic protothecosis in an immunocompetent patient |
| title_short | Systemic protothecosis in an immunocompetent patient |
| title_sort | systemic protothecosis in an immunocompetent patient |
| topic | Emerging diseases protothecosis Prototheca wickerhamii algaemia treatment |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40794-022-00180-8 |
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