A recently published scheme of investigation was used to identify all isolates of red yeast-like fungi from clinical specimens over a 29-mth period. In 8062 specimens we found 45 strains of Rhodotorula rubra, seven of R. minuta var. texensis, three of R. aurantiaca, one of R. glutinis var. glutinis, one of R. pilimanae and one of Sporobolomyces salmonicolor. The commonest single source of these fungi was stool, of which 2.6 per cent. of specimens yielded Rhodotorula spp. None of the strains isolated appeared to be the cause of an infection. The routine identification of red yeast-like fungi could be made without difficulty, and techniques employed are recommended to other hospital laboratories wishing to provide this service.
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