A new kind of barrel chest: alcoholic fermentation due to Candida albicans in a pleural effusion

Pleural effusions are common in critically ill patients. They can be infected with fungi, especially in cases of gastro-esophageal perforations 1. If yeasts and sugar-containing fluids come together in the body, alcohol can be produced. This phenomenon, called auto-brewery-syndrome, has been described in the intestinal or urinary system 2, 3. We hypothesized that alcohol can develop in a yeast-infected pleural effusion.
Source: The American Journal of Medicine - Category: General Medicine Authors: Tags: Clinical Communication to the Editor Source Type: research