Candida albicans blastoconidia in peripheral blood smears from non-neutropenic surgical patients

An 80 year old woman developed fever 11 days after volvulus surgery. A peripheral blood smear showed numerous yeast cells-both extraleucocytic and intraleucocytic-as well as leucoagglutination, The fungal elements included blastospores, pseudohyphae, and germ tubes. Two days later, blood cultures yielded Candida albicans, Enterobacter aerogenes, and Staphlococcus aureus. The patient had no medical history of immunodeficiency. Several reports indicate that fungal elements may be detected in peripheral blood smears from patients who have a severe intestinal disease.