Saccharomyces cerevisiae sepsis in a 35-week-old premature infant. A case report

Saccharomyces cerevisiae (brewer’s or baker’s yeast) is an extremely rare cause of fungal sepsis. It is an asporogenous yeast that is used in the production of baked goods, beer, wine, and occasionally found in health foods. It colonizes the human respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, urinary tract, and vagina. Severe immunosuppression, prolonged hospitalization, prior antibiotic therapy, and prosthetic cardiac valves are the settings where Saccharomyces infection has been observed. S. cerevisiae has been classified within the yeast species as a new or emerging pathogen since 1990. Increasing case reports in the medical literature are an indication of emerging yeast infections.23 In this report we will describe a 35-week-old neonate who had feeding intolerance and frequent episodes of presumed sepsis treated empirically with vancomycin, cefotaxime, and gentamicin. The patient had no other underlying problems, or central venous catheters.