Disseminated Trichosporon spp infection in preterm newborns: a case report.

Objective: To report the first case of disseminated Trichosporon spp infection in a newborn infant in Brazil, discussing a few aspects concerning management and treatment. A new spectrum of pathogens associated with severe infections in neonatal ICU has arisen, afflicting mainly newborn infants weighing less than 1,000 g at birth. Infection with Trichosporon asahii is rare and often fatal in this group of patients.

Description: A case of Trichosporon spp fatal infection in a newborn weighing 815 g at birth is reported. Literature search in the main databases returned only nine articles, reporting 14 cases of infection with this fungus in preterm newborns.

Conclusions: The rate of invasive fungal infection is around 6% in this group of patients, Trichosporon infection being a likely occurrence. Mortality rate in these cases is extremely high, but early treatment with triazole antifungals improves prognosis significantly.