Intraluminal fungal colonization of gastrostomy tubes.

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tubes are frequently colonized with fungal and bacterial organisms. This has not been previously reported. In our sample of 10 patients, nine percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tubes were colonized with fungi. This occurred as early as 1 week after placement. Candida tropicalis was isolated in five patients. It is hypothesized that a variety of fungi use components of the gastrostomy tube polymer, such as polymer additives, which contribute to the structural deterioration of the tube.