[Isolation of the yeast-like fungus Stephanoascus ciferrii by culturing the aural discharge of a patient with intractable otitis media. Case report].

As longer lives have become possible due to advances in medical technology and diagnostic technology in recent years, weakly toxic fungus have been emerging as causative agents of opportunistic infections, primarily in high-risk groups. We report a case in which the yeast-like fungus Stephanoascus ciferii, which has morphological characteristics that differ from those of the more common Candida species, was isolated by culturing the aural discharge of a patient with intractable otitis media. Drug susceptibility testing showed that it was resistant to fluconazole, flucytosine, and itraconazole, suggesting that it is a species that has a strong tendency to become resistant. The principal sites of infection by Stephanoascus ciferii are thought to be in the ENT area, but in other countries it has been isolated from patients with acute myeloid leukemia and immunodeficiency as well as superficial mycoses, and it may also be a causative agent of deep mycoses. We therefore think that it is necessary to bear in mind detection in other areas outside the ENT field and to adequately monitor the circumstances under which this fungus is isolated.