Kodamaea Ohmeri: An Emerging Opportunistic Yeast - A Case Series from Northeast India

Introduction Kodamaea ohmeri, formerly classified under the genera Pichia and Yamadazyma, is an uncommon ascomycetous yeast belonging to the family Saccharomycetaceae [1,2]. It represents the teleomorphic form of Candida guilliermondii var. membranaefaciens and has traditionally been utilized in the food industry for the fermentation of fruits, pickles, and rinds [3]. The genus Kodamaea currently comprises five recognized species (K. anthrophila, K. kakaduensis, K. laetipori, K. nitidulidarum, and K. ohmeri), among which only K. ohmeri has been associated with human pathogenicity [4]. K. ohmeri has emerged in recent years as an opportunistic fungal pathogen, particularly in immunocompromised hosts [4,5]. Since the initial description of K. ohmeri–associated sepsis, reports of invasive fungal disease due to this organism have steadily increased. Documented presentations include bloodstream infection, catheter-associated fungemia, peritonitis, and infective endocarditis. Notably, several hospital-based outbreaks—particularly within neonatal and paediatric intensive care settings—have highlighted its capacity for nosocomial transmission and its association with substantial mortality [6–12]