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A Diabetic Patient with Fungal Arthritis due to Hansenula anomala
Sang-Soo Lee, M.D., Byung-Wan Lee, M.D., Choong-Hyun Lee, M.D. Chun-Kwan Kim, M.D., Shin-Woo Kim, M.D., Sung-Min Kim, M.D. Kyong Ran Peck, M.D., Nam Yong Lee, M.D.* and Jae-Hoon Song, M.D.
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, and Clinical Pathology*, Sungkunkwan University, School of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
Vol.32 Num.3 (p243~247)
Hansenula anomala is a normal or transient flora of the throat and alimentary tract, and has been reported as an organism causing opportunistic or nosocomial infections in immunocompromised patients, but rarely in immunocompetent hosts. From the review of the literatures, there is no published report on arthritis caused by H. anomala.
We experienced a case of H. anomala arthritis in a 59-year old man who had diabetes mellitus and right knee joint swelling with deformity. The findings of magnetic resonance image were consistent with septic arthritis which had bony destruction in distal femur and proximal tibia, abscess formation in joint space, and joint effusion with synovial hypertrophy. A fungus was isolated from a couple of blood cultures and knee joint aspiration fluid, and later identified as H. anomala by yeast biochemical cards. He was successfully treated with extensive debridement and fluconazole for 8 weeks.
Keywords : Hansenula anomala, Fungal arthritis, Diabetes mellitus