Saccharomyces cerevisiae isolated in a degloving baker’s machine injury, a contamination or infection – a case report

TL;DR

A baker suffered a hand injury from a machine and developed a rare yeast infection, highlighting the risk of fungal infections in such occupational injuries.

Contribution

Presents a rare case of Saccharomyces cerevisiae infection from a baker's machine injury, emphasizing clinical management challenges.

Findings

An immunocompetent patient developed a deep tissue infection with Saccharomyces cerevisiae after a degloving injury.

The case highlights the difficulty in distinguishing contamination from true infection in occupational injuries.

Early identification and antifungal treatment are crucial in similar occupational scenarios.

Abstract

Deep tissue and bloodstream yeast infections are associated with poor outcomes due to rapid progression, antifungal resistance, and immune evasion. Differentiating between wound contamination and true fungal infection remains a clinical challenge, with limited guidance on the use of prophylactic antifungal therapy in this setting. This article presents a rare case of an immunocompetent patient who sustained a degloving hand injury and radius fracture from a bread kneading machine, with subsequent deep tissue cultures growing Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The case underscores the potential risk of fungal infection in occupational injuries involving dough and emphasizes the importance of early identification and consideration of prophylactic antifungal treatment in similar scenarios.

Figures