Papiliotrema laurentii fungemia in a premature, very low-birth-weight neonate in Kuwait successfully treated with liposomal amphotericin B. Papiliotrema laurentii fungemia

Cryptococcus spp. include human pathogens (e.g. C. neoformans and C. gattii) and environmental saprophytes such as Cryptococcus laurentii (=Papiliotrema laurentii) and Cryptococcus albidus (=Papiliotrema albidus) which are largely considered as non-pathogenic to humans with a normal immune system. The first case of P. laurentii fungemia in a premature, low-birth-weight neonate is described from Kuwait. Repeated bloodstream isolates were obtained and were tentatively identified as P. laurentii by Vitek 2. The identity was established by PCR-sequencing of rDNA. The baby was successfully treated by liposomal amphotericin B.