Infection of Tissue Expander With Candida Parapsilosis

A 13-month-old boy underwent placement of a tissue expander in the subgaleal plane in the forehead. The indication for skin expansion was a large congenital melanocytic nevus involving the forehead and glabella. Serial inflations of the expander were performed in the plastic surgery clinic using sterile equipment. Alcohol was used to prepare the skin overlying the injection port. Three months following the insertion of the tissue expander, the patient presented to the emergency department with fever up to 102.2◦F (39◦C), and a yellowish discharge from the surgical wound. The wound was dehisced (Fig 1). Cultures taken from the wound revealed growth of Candida Parapsilosis in 3 different sets taken 24 hours apart.