MALASSEZIA FURFUR-RELATED COLONIZATION OF VASCULAR CATHETER - A PROSPECTIVE-STUDY

Purpose. The present study was designed to determine the incidence of Malassezia yeasts colonizing vascular catheters. Materials and methods . One thousand six hundred and nine vascular catheters were cultured. First they were used for a bacteriological study according to the Maki 's technique, then they were rinsed with 1 mi of physiological saline and cultured on Dixon's medium. The quantity of colonies forming units were expressed in a semiquantitative method. Results. Ninety one vasc ular catheters were colonized by yeasts. Thirty-eight had Malassezia y easts. It was the genus most commonly isolated. Nine patients had a va scular catheter with numerous and quite numerous colonies. Seven of th em were hospitalised in a surgery unit. Conclusions. The incidence of Malassezia yeasts colonizing vascular catheters appears relatively imp ortant. Further studies are needed to determine the factors to vascula r catheter colonization and systemic disease with this organism.