Saccharomyces cerevisiae fungemia in a head and neck cancer patient:: A case report and review of the literature

We report the case of a 65-year old male who developed Saccharomyces cerevisiae fungemia after completing a course of concomitant chemotherapy and radiation therapy for head and neck carcinoma. He had grade IV oral mucositis, and received Saccharomyces boulardii (Perenterol((R))) orally as treatment for aseptic diarrhoea just before the onset of fungemia. We discuss the epidemiology and pathology of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. in the cancer patient population.