Saprophytic pleuritis with Candida parapsilosis
Nakagawa, Y.; Fukushima, Y.; Sakata, T.; Suga, M.; Ando, M.
Nihon Kyobu Shikkan Gakkai Zasshi 34(3): 341-344
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0301-1542 PMID: 8778477 Document Number: 467540
A 73-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with pneumonia in the right S6 induced by Streptococcus milleri and with left pleural thickening. He had histories of diabetes mellitus for 30 years and pulmonary tuberculosis 35 years ago. The pneumonia resolved completely after administration of ceftazidime and clindamycin for 10 days, but the pleural thickening remained and computed tomography revealed that it was an encapsulated effusion without calcification. An aspirate was turbid yellow with a high concentration of lipids, and consisted of dominant crystals and scattered cells, 80% of which were yeasts and 20% of which were macrophages phagocytizing them. Only Candida parapsilosis developed in culture. The same silent pleural shadow was identified on chest X-ray films obtained over the previous 7 years. The persistent pleuritis was diagnosed as saprophytic infection with C. parapsilosis.