Trichosporon spp.
Trichosporon spp. is a yeast-like fungus belonging to the Trichosporonaceae family. The pathogen is able to adhere to and form biofilms.
Trichosporon spp. can cause superficial infections such as white piedra (fungal infection of the hair shaft) or onychomycosis (nail fungus). The pathogen also causes an invasive infection known as trichosporonosis. Trichosporonosis mainly occurs in people with a weakened immune system.
Trichosporon spp. is ubiquitous and is found in soil, plants, and water, among other places. The pathogen can also be found in various species of animal, such as bats, birds, domestic animals, and livestock.
Relevance of pathogen in transmission in endoscopy
Gastroenterology: High
Pulmonology: Low
Ear, nose, and throat: Not relevant
Urology: Not relevant
Relevance for endoscope processing
High concern organism
Transmission route
The transmission route of superficial infections is unclear. However, poor hygiene, bathing in contaminated water, and sexual transmission could play a role.
Invasive infections with Trichosporon spp. are usually catheter-associated.
Antifungals
Among other things, resistance and reduced susceptibility to amphotericin B, azoles, and echinocandins have been described for Trichosporon spp.
Castano G et al. Trichosporonosis, In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482477/
Colombo AL et al. Current knowledge of Trichosporon spp. and Trichosporonosis, Clin Microbiol Rev. 2011 Oct;24(4):682–700.
de Almeida Júnior JN/Hennequin C Invasive Trichosporon Infection: a Systematic Review on a Re-emerging Fungal Pathogen, Front Microbiol. 2016 Oct 17;7:1629.
Montoya AM/González GM Trichosporon spp.: an emerging fungal pathogen, Elsevier, Medicina Universitaria 2014;16(62):37-43.