Frequency of intravascular catheter colonization by Malassezia spp. in adult patients

Colonization of intravascular catheters (IVCs) with lipid-dependent Malassezia spp. is rarely reported in adult patients probably because of the absence of additional lipids in routine culture media. Therefore, we systematically seeded 983 consecutive IVC onto Dixon medium compatible with the growth of Malassezia spp. Seven (0.7%) IVCs were positive. Six of them were from surgical patients. Four of them also yielded common bacteria. Identification using PCR-RFLP and restriction enzymes yielded M. furfur and M. sympodialis. Colonization of IVCs with Malassezia spp. does not appear negligible and warrants additional studies to evaluate the clinical relevance of such findings and the role of this yeast in biofilm formation.