549 research outputs found
Global epidemiology of azole resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus
No full textAbstract The fungus Aspergillus fumigatus has evolved as an important cause of opportunistic fungal diseases in humans worldwide. It is the most frequent filamentous fungus colonizing the airways of patients with cystic fibrosis and can affect immunocompetent as well as immunocompromised individuals. Aspergillus disease is commonly treated with azoles, which inhibit lanosterol 14α-demethylase, a key component of the ergosterol biosynthesis pathway, essential for membrane integrity and fluidity. Lanosterol 14α-demethylase is encoded by the CYP51A gene. Azole-resistant A. fumigatus isolates often show amino acid substitutions in Cyp51A. Most prevalent mutations have a tandem repeat (TR) in the promoter and point mutations in the gene (e.g. TR34/L98H and TR46/Y121F/T289A). In addition to TRs, isolates with single point mutations developed and are widespread around the world (e.g. M220I, G54R). To date, azole-resistant isolates have been found on every continent except Antarctica. This review will summarize the epidemiology and prevalence of Azole-resistant A. fumigatus worldwide including the history of different mutations found and highlights important gaps as data are missing in several parts of the world
Thermogenic Characterization and Antifungal Susceptibility of Candida auris by Microcalorimetry
No full textCandida auris has emerged globally as a multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen. Isolates of C. auris are reported to be misidentified as Candida haemulonii. The aim of the study was to compare the heat production profiles of C. auris strains and other Candida spp. and evaluate their antifungal susceptibility using isothermal microcalorimetry. The minimum heat inhibitory concentrations (MHIC) and the minimum biofilm fungicidal concentration (MBFC) were defined as the lowest antimicrobial concentration leading to the lack of heat flow production after 24 h for planktonic cells and 48 h for biofilm-embedded cells. C. auris exhibited a peculiar heat production profile. Thermogenic parameters of C. auris suggested a slower growth rate compared to Candida lusitaniae and a different distinct heat profile compared to that of C. haemulonii species complex strains, although they all belong to the Metschnikowiaceae clade. Amphotericin B MHIC and MBFC were 0.5 µg/mL and ≥8 µg/mL, respectively. C. auris strains were non-susceptible to fluconazole at tested concentrations (MHIC > 128 µg/mL, MBFC > 256 µg/mL). The heat curve represents a fingerprint of C. auris, which distinguished it from other species. Treatment based on amphotericin B represents a potential therapeutic option for C. auris infection
Burden of serious fungal infections in Belgium.
No full textWe aimed to estimate the total number of serious fungal infections occurring yearly in Belgium. The number of cryptococcal infections was retrieved from the National Reference Center for Mycosis. Populations at risk and fungal infections frequencies in these populations were used to estimate incidence or prevalence of other fungal infections. The Belgian population consists of 11.10 million people. Cryptococcal meningitis is rare. In all, 15 of the 1227 newly diagnosed HIV/AIDS cases presented with Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia. This accounts for ±14% of total PCP cases (n = 120). The incidence of candidaemia is estimated as 5/100 000 resulting in 555 cases and 213 deaths. A total number of 675 invasive aspergillosis cases and ≥169 deaths attributed to this infection were calculated. Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis is estimated to be prevalent in 662 cases. Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis cases were estimated to be 23 119 applying a 2.5% and 15% rate in adult asthma and cystic fibrosis patients respectively. Severe asthma with fungal sensitisation cases was estimated to be 30 402. There were 174 760 women with recurrent Candida vaginitis assuming a 6% rate in women aged between 15 and 50. Approximately 233 000 people of the Belgian population (2.1%) are estimated to suffer from a fungal infection on a yearly basis
Does Online Search Behavior Coincide with Candida auris Cases? An Exploratory Study
No full textCandida auris is an emerging multidrug resistant infectious yeast which is challenging to eradicate and despite available laboratory methods is still difficult to identify especially in less developed countries. To limit the rapid spread of C. auris, quick and accurate detection is essential. From the perspective of disease surveillance, additional methods of tracking this yeast are needed. In order to increase global preparedness, we explored the use of online search behavior to monitor the recent global spread of C. auris. We used Google Trends to assess online search behavior on C. auris from January 2016 until August 2018. Weekly Google Trends results were counted as hits and compared to confirmed C. auris cases obtained via publications and a global expert network of key opinion leaders. A total of 44 countries generated a hit, of which 30% (13/44) were confirmed known cases, 34% (15/44) were missed known cases, 34% (15/44) were hits for unknown cases, and 2% (1/44) were confirmed unknown cases. Conclusions: Google Trends searches is rapidly able to provide information on countries with an increased search interest in C. auris. However, Google Trends search results do not generally coincide with C. auris cases or clusters. This study did show that using Google Trends provides both insight into the known and highlights the unknown, providing potential for surveillance and tracking and hence aid in taking timely precautionary measures
Molecular identification and susceptibility of Trichosporon species isolated from clinical specimens in Qatar: isolation of Trichosporon dohaense Taj-Aldeen, Meis & Boekhout sp. nov
No full textTrichosporon species have been reported as emerging pathogens and usually occur in severely immunocompromised patients. In the present work, 27 clinical isolates of Trichosporon species were recovered from 27 patients. The patients were not immunocompromised, except for one with acute myeloid leukemia. Sequence analysis revealed the isolation of Trichosporon dohaense Taj-Aldeen, Meis & Boekhout sp. nov., with CBS 10761(T) as the holotype strain, belonging to the Ovoides clade. In the D1-D2 large-subunit rRNA gene analysis, T. dohaense is a sister species to T. coremiiforme, and in the internal transcribed spacer analysis, the species is basal to the other species of this clade. Molecular identification of the strains yielded 17 T. asahii, 3 T. inkin, 2 T. japonicum, 2 T. faecale, and 3 T. dohaense isolates. The former four species exhibited low MICs for five antifungal azoles but showed high MICs for amphotericin B. T. dohaense demonstrated the lowest amphotericin B MIC (1 mg/liter). For the majority of T. asahii isolates, amphotericin B MICs were high (MIC at which 90% of isolates were inhibited [MIC(90)], > or = 16 mg/liter), and except for fluconazole (MIC(90), 8 mg/liter), the azole MICs were low: MIC(90)s were 0.5 mg/liter for itraconazole, 0.25 mg/liter for voriconazole, 0.25 mg/liter for posaconazole, and 0.125 mg/liter for isavuconazole. The echinocandins, caspofungin and anidulafungin, demonstrated no activity against Trichosporon species
Candida auris—“Ten Years After”
No full textWe would like to thank all contributors to this Special Issue on Candida auris [...
No Evidence for a Relation Between Borrelia burgdorferi Infection and Old Lesions of Localized Scleroderma (Morphea)
No full textEmergence of azole resistant Aspergillus in hospitals and role of the environment. Only a European problem or is Asia next?
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Emergence of azole resistant Aspergillus fumigatus and One Health: time to implement environmental stewardship
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