Candida krusei arthritis in a boy with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Abstract

Fungal arthritis is a relatively rare complication, which occurs in patients with hematological disease and cancer. Recently non-albicans Candida species have emerged as clinically important agents; however, Candida krusei (C. krusei) arthritis is still rare. We report a 6-year-old boy who developed C. krusei arthritis associated with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He was given oral fluconazole and broad-spectrum antibiotics prophylactically, but nevertheless, he developed fungemia with C. krusei and subsequently developed arthritis in his right hip. He was successfully treated with liposomal amphotericin B and micafungin combined with surgical drainage. This is the youngest case with C. krusei arthritis.