An invasive infection caused by the thermophilic mold Talaromyces thermophilus

Background Increasing incidence of invasive infections caused by rare fungi was observed over the recent years. Case Here, we describe the first reported case of an infection caused by the thermophilic mold Talaromyces thermophilus. Cultivation and, hence, identification of this fastidious organism is challenging since standard incubation conditions are not sufficient. Retrospective analysis of patient samples and in vitro experiments demonstrated that testing for fungal antigens, i.e., the cell wall components galactomannan and beta-1,3-d-glucan, is a promising tool.

Automated summary

In recent years, there has been an increasing incidence of invasive infections caused by rare fungi. The first reported case of an infection caused by the thermophilic mold Talaromyces thermophilus is described here. Cultivation and identification of this organism is challenging due to inadequate standard incubation conditions, but testing for fungal antigens shows promise based on retrospective analysis of patient samples and in vitro experiments.