Rising Into Relevance: A Rare Case of Pyelonephritis in an Immunosuppressed Patient With Exposure to Sourdough Starter

Saccharomyces cerevisiae , commonly known as Baker’s yeast, has been used in breadmaking, winemaking, and beer brewing for centuries. Although not generally regarded as pathogenic, rare cases of invasive infections have occurred in patients predisposed by critical illness, immunosuppression, or prol...

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Main Authors: Alissa Mingo BS, Drew Stone MD, Andrew D. Schreiner MD, MSCR, Richard Lueking MD
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2025-02-01
Series:Journal of Investigative Medicine High Impact Case Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/23247096251322284
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author Alissa Mingo BS
Drew Stone MD
Andrew D. Schreiner MD, MSCR
Richard Lueking MD
author_facet Alissa Mingo BS
Drew Stone MD
Andrew D. Schreiner MD, MSCR
Richard Lueking MD
author_sort Alissa Mingo BS
collection DOAJ
description Saccharomyces cerevisiae , commonly known as Baker’s yeast, has been used in breadmaking, winemaking, and beer brewing for centuries. Although not generally regarded as pathogenic, rare cases of invasive infections have occurred in patients predisposed by critical illness, immunosuppression, or prolonged antibiotic use. Using data collected from the electronic medical record and personal interactions with the patient, we present a case of complicated S cerevisiae urinary tract infection (UTI). We searched terms (and permutations of terms) including Saccharomyces cerevisiae , Baker’s or Brewer’s yeast, and urinary tract infection using PubMed to identify previously published evidence of invasive S cerevisiae infections. Our patient is a 30-year-old woman with a history of rheumatoid arthritis on methotrexate, and previous admission for Candida glabrata UTI requiring intravenous antifungal therapies, who presented to her gynecologist with complaints of vaginitis and flank pain. Vaginal and urine cultures grew S cerevisiae , and the patient was diagnosed with pyelonephritis and admitted for treatment. A further review of the patient’s history revealed daily exposure to S cerevisiae through baking sourdough bread. She was treated with 7 days of IV amphotericin deoxycholate and discharged on a 6-month course of suppressive oteseconazole for vulvovaginitis suppression. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is an exceedingly rare cause of invasive fungal UTI, with our literature review identifying only a few case reports of associated UTI and fungemia, all related to probiotic use. Our case emphasizes the importance of careful history taking and early diagnostic cultures in those at risk of invasive fungal infections.
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spelling doaj-art-aaf516dd7c0d4e64a36da764b099db732025-08-20T02:45:10ZengSAGE PublishingJournal of Investigative Medicine High Impact Case Reports2324-70962025-02-011310.1177/23247096251322284Rising Into Relevance: A Rare Case of Pyelonephritis in an Immunosuppressed Patient With Exposure to Sourdough StarterAlissa Mingo BS0Drew Stone MD1Andrew D. Schreiner MD, MSCR2Richard Lueking MD3Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USAMedical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USAMedical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USAMedical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USASaccharomyces cerevisiae , commonly known as Baker’s yeast, has been used in breadmaking, winemaking, and beer brewing for centuries. Although not generally regarded as pathogenic, rare cases of invasive infections have occurred in patients predisposed by critical illness, immunosuppression, or prolonged antibiotic use. Using data collected from the electronic medical record and personal interactions with the patient, we present a case of complicated S cerevisiae urinary tract infection (UTI). We searched terms (and permutations of terms) including Saccharomyces cerevisiae , Baker’s or Brewer’s yeast, and urinary tract infection using PubMed to identify previously published evidence of invasive S cerevisiae infections. Our patient is a 30-year-old woman with a history of rheumatoid arthritis on methotrexate, and previous admission for Candida glabrata UTI requiring intravenous antifungal therapies, who presented to her gynecologist with complaints of vaginitis and flank pain. Vaginal and urine cultures grew S cerevisiae , and the patient was diagnosed with pyelonephritis and admitted for treatment. A further review of the patient’s history revealed daily exposure to S cerevisiae through baking sourdough bread. She was treated with 7 days of IV amphotericin deoxycholate and discharged on a 6-month course of suppressive oteseconazole for vulvovaginitis suppression. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is an exceedingly rare cause of invasive fungal UTI, with our literature review identifying only a few case reports of associated UTI and fungemia, all related to probiotic use. Our case emphasizes the importance of careful history taking and early diagnostic cultures in those at risk of invasive fungal infections.https://doi.org/10.1177/23247096251322284
spellingShingle Alissa Mingo BS
Drew Stone MD
Andrew D. Schreiner MD, MSCR
Richard Lueking MD
Rising Into Relevance: A Rare Case of Pyelonephritis in an Immunosuppressed Patient With Exposure to Sourdough Starter
Journal of Investigative Medicine High Impact Case Reports
title Rising Into Relevance: A Rare Case of Pyelonephritis in an Immunosuppressed Patient With Exposure to Sourdough Starter
title_full Rising Into Relevance: A Rare Case of Pyelonephritis in an Immunosuppressed Patient With Exposure to Sourdough Starter
title_fullStr Rising Into Relevance: A Rare Case of Pyelonephritis in an Immunosuppressed Patient With Exposure to Sourdough Starter
title_full_unstemmed Rising Into Relevance: A Rare Case of Pyelonephritis in an Immunosuppressed Patient With Exposure to Sourdough Starter
title_short Rising Into Relevance: A Rare Case of Pyelonephritis in an Immunosuppressed Patient With Exposure to Sourdough Starter
title_sort rising into relevance a rare case of pyelonephritis in an immunosuppressed patient with exposure to sourdough starter
url https://doi.org/10.1177/23247096251322284
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