An inconspicuous identification: isolation and identification of a novel Pichia species presenting as fungemia following cardiac surgery.

Fungemia is common in critically-ill patient populations, and is associated with a high rate of mortality, especially when caused by non-albicans Candida species. Herein, we describe a fatal case of fungemia following cardiothoracic surgery in which the organism, initially identified as Candida inconspicua, represents a novel species: Pichia alaskaensis.