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Current Medical Mycology - Volume:8 Issue: 3, Sep 2022

Current Medical Mycology
Volume:8 Issue: 3, Sep 2022

  • تاریخ انتشار: 1401/11/24
  • تعداد عناوین: 8
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  • Bryan Ortiz, Kateryn Aguilar, Celeste Galindo-Morales, Lizzy Molina, Gustavo Fontecha * Pages 1-8
    Background and Purpose

    Infections by emerging and multiresistant Candida species are becoming more frequent throughout the world. This study aimed to describe Candida species in different wards of a tertiary hospital in Honduras.

    Materials and Methods

    Prevalence of species within the C. albicans complex was estimated using a molecular approach, and C. auris was investigated using a yeast pool-based DNA extraction method. Three hundred and twenty-eight yeast isolates were identified using phenotypic approaches. For identification of species within the albicans complex, a molecular approach based on the size polymorphisms of the hpw1 gene was used. In addition, we optimized a technique based on DNA extraction in pools for the rapid identification of C. auris.

    Results

    Eleven species of Candida were identified in the hospital wards. Candida albicans showed the highest number of isolates (52.4%). Within the Candida albicans complex, C. albicans sensu stricto was the most common followed by C. dubliniensis. C. auris was not found.

    Conclusion

    Reports on the distribution of Candida species in Honduras are limited, thus the data from this study are of importance for a better understanding of their epidemiology. Also, we offer a simple method for the detection of C. auris that could help in its detection in low-resource settings.

    Keywords: cryptic species, HWP1 gene, gpi gene, Candida albicans complex
  • Mohammad Kord, Mohammadreza Salehi, Seyed Jamal Hashemi, Alireza Abdollahi, Neda Alijani, Ayda Maleki, Shahram Mahmoudi, Kazem Ahmadikia, Nasrin Parsameher, Masoud Moradi, Mahsa Abdorahimi, Sara Rezaie, Shirin Sadat Hashemi Fesharaki, Kiana Abbasi, Laura Alcazar-Fuoli, Sadegh Khodavaysi * Pages 9-17
    Background and purpose

    Candidemia is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy and those hospitalized with serious underlying diseases. Here, we investigated the epidemiological, clinical and mycological features of candiemia in Tehran, Iran.

    Material and methods

    A prospective observational study of all patients diagnosed with candidemia was performed at two referral teaching hospitals in Tehran, Iran between February to December 2018. Demographic characteristics, underlying diseases, risk factors, clinical symptoms, and laboratory analyses of candidemic patients with positive culture were mined. Candida isolates were molecularly identified by sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2). The antifungal susceptibility testing for fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole, amphotericin B, caspofungin, micafungin and anidulafungin against the isolates were performed using CLSI broth microdilution reference method (M27-A3).

    Results

    A total of 89 episodes were identified, with an incidence of 2.1 episodes/1000 admissions. The most common underlying disease was sepsis (48%) followed by malignancy (46%), renal failure/dialysis (44%), and hypertension (40%). The overall crude mortality was 47%. C. albicans (44%) was the most frequent causative agent followed by C. glabrata (21%), C. parapsilosis complex (15%), C. tropicalis (11%), and C. lusitaniae (3.5%). All the isolates were susceptible to amphotericin B. The activity of all the four azoles was low against non-albicans Candida species, especially C. tropicalis.

    Conclusion

    Increase in non-albicans Candida species with reduced susceptibility to antifungal drugs might be alarming in high-risk patients. Therefore, accurate knowledge of predisposing factors and epidemiological patterns in candidemia are effective steps for managing and decreasing the mortality rate in candidemia.

    Keywords: Candidemia, Antifungal susceptibility, Epidemiology, risk factors
  • Maryam Talebshoushtari Zadeh, Ensieh Lotfali, Sara Abolghasemi *, Mahsa Fattahi Pages 18-22
    Background and Purpose

    Candidiasis is considered as one of the most important fungal infections in hematological malignancy. Candidiasis is considered as the most important cause of disease and mortality in hematological malignancy and antifungal prophylaxis is important (remove highlighted text).

    Objectives

    The aim of study is to identify and evaluated antifungal susceptibility pattern in patients with hematological malignancy

    Material and Methods

    In this study, samples were collected from the oral cavity of 100 patients and Candida colonization was confirmed by fungal culture. Isolated Candida strains were identified by ITS-PCR. In vitro antifungal susceptibility tests against fluconazole (replace “fluconazole” with “azoles”), amphotericinB and caspofungin were performed according to CLSI M27-A3/S4.

    Results

    Demographics, comorbidities, distribution of Candida species, antifungal susceptibility were analyzed. Study participants included 100 patients. The mean age of patients was 15.48% ±48.74 years were in the range of 17 to 84 years and in terms of sex distribution, 64% were male and 36% were female. In terms of the distribution of underlying hematologic malignancy, 27% had lymphoma. The most commonly isolated species among patients were 49% C. albicans, 31% C. glabrata, 10% Co-colonization of C. albicans and C. with C. glabrata .The overall resistance of C.albicance was %5 to fluconazole%2 to amphotericinB.C. glabrata showed %11 resistance to fluconazole and was susceptible to amphotericinB.All candida spp.isolated from patients were susceptible to caspofungin.

    Conclusions

    The high rate of colonization of Candida species, especially the significant increase in the frequency of Candida glabrata in patients with blood malignancies and the gradual increase in resistance to fluconazole, necessitate a change in the use of antifungal drugs for the prevention and experimental treatment of hematological malignancy.

    Keywords: Candida, C. albicans, C. Glabrata, Hematologic malignancy
  • Milad Larijani, Zahra Zareshahrabadi, Abdolhamid Alhavaz, Romina Hajipour, Alireza Ranjbaran, Rashin Giti, Vahid Soltankarimi, Kamiar Zomorodian * Pages 23-29
    Background and Purpose

    The human mouth mucosal surface is colonized by indigenous microflora, which normally maintains an ecological balance among different species. However, certain environmental or biological factors may disrupt this balance,leading to microbial diseases. Candida albicans biofilms are formed on indwelling medical devices and have an association with both oral and invasive candidiasis. This study aimed to compare the amount of adherent C. albicans and the biofilm formed on different denture base materials. The adhesion of C. albicans to denture base materials is widely recognized as the main reason for the development of denture stomatitis.

    Materials and Methods

    In total, 56 polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) acrylic resin disc-shaped samples were divided into four groups as follows: 1) chemically polymerized PMMA, 2) heat-polymerized PMMA, 3) computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) PMMA in high polish, and 4) CAD/CAM resins in glazed form. The adherent cells and formation of C. albicans strains (562, 1905,1912, and 1949) biofilm were measured by the 2,3-bis-(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide (XTT) method and use of a microplatereader. Moreover, morphological alterations of C. albicans cells were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

    Results

    The biofilm formation was significantly lower on CAD/CAM acrylic resins,compared to conventional denture base materials. The obtained results were confirmed by the SEM images of C. albicans biofilms. CAD/CAM PMMA-based polymers may be preferable to inhibit C. albicans biofilm formation and reduce Candida-associated denture stomatitis in long-term use.

    Conclusion

    Based on the findings, the CAD/CAM technique can be used as an efficient technique for denture fabrication as it inhibits microbial accumulation, and consequently,microbial biofilm.

    Keywords: candida albicans, Adhesion, Biofilm, Denture
  • Azam Haghighatfard, Saeed Abbasi, Pegah Alijani, Farzaneh Afyooni Akbari, Hossein Rashidi, Parvin Dehghan * Pages 30-34
    Background and Purpose

    Candidemia is known as an invasive fungal infection with high mortality. The prevalence of candidemia in intensive care unit (ICU) patients is more than in other hospital wards. Early diagnosis of candidemia in these patients is essential for disease management.

    Materials and Methods

    This study included 250 patients suspected of candidemia. Blood samples were taken from patients and incubated. The fungal isolates were identified by PCR-RFLP method using MSP I restriction enzyme. Demographic characteristics, risk factors, underlying diseases, and laboratory analysis results were mined in this study.

    Results

    In total, 22 blood samples were identified as positive for Candida yeasts in culture. The most common underlying diseases in these patients were heart disease and hypertension (36.4%). Candida albicans with 12 cases (54.5%) was the most isolated species, followed by C. parapsilosis (n=5, 22.7%), C. glabrata (n=4, 18.2%), and C. tropicalis (n=1, 4.5%) in descending order. Intravenous catheter use was recognized as the most common risk factor in patients with candidemia (77.3%), and after that, the use of mechanical ventilation (68.2%) and urinary catheter (40.9%) obtained the highest frequency. Furthermore, 17 patients were prescribed at least one antifungal drug, of which fluconazole was the most used (36.4%). The mortality rate in patients in this study was 63.6%. All C. albicans isolates were susceptible to antifungal agents but in nonalbicans Candida (NAC), drug resistance to fluconazole, voriconazole, and caspofungin were observed.

    Conclusion

    Although C. albicans was the most common fungal species in this study, the prevalence of NAC species was high. The increasing frequency of NAC species is a concern because they have different patterns of drug resistance. Recognition of risk factors in patients admitted to ICUs can help prevent candidemia or properly manage the disease.

    Keywords: Candidemia, Identification, Intensive Care Unit, PCR, Yeast
  • Humaira Farooq *, Tahmina Monowar, Venkata Suresh Chinni, Swe Swe Latt, Noor Hasliza Zainol, Gokul Shankar Sabesan Pages 35-38
    Background and Purpose

    Invasive candidiasis is one of the most common systemicmycoses, and studies have shown mixed yeast infections. Malaysia lacks mixed yeastculture data.

    Materials and Methods

    Yeast isolates were collected in Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital,North Malaysia, from October 2020 to October 2021. Chromogenic Candida differentialagar media and PCR-RFLP were used to identify yeast species.

    Results

    A total of 206 yeast isolates were collected from different body sites of patients.The majority of the yeast isolates (n=104) were obtained from the urine. Other isolates were extracted from blood (n=52), vaginal swabs (n=45), ear discharge (n=2), tracheal aspirate (n=2), tissue (n=2), skin (n=1), nail (n=1), sputum (n=1), and cerebrospinal fluid (n=1). In total, 200 yeast samples were identified as single species, and six isolates were a mixture of Candida species.

    Conclusion

    Malaysia lacks accurate epidemiological data on mixed yeast infections.We identified all samples to the species level, including mixed yeast cultures, using theMspI enzyme and PCR-RFLP.

    Keywords: candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Mixed yeast infections, MspI, PCR RFLP
  • Emine Koroglu *, Şehrazat Evirgen, Ahmed Abed, Safiye Ellif Korcan, Cansu Gul Efeoglu Koca Pages 39-43
    Background and Purpose

    Fungus Ball (FB) is a non-invasive fungal infection caused mainly by Aspergillus species. It can occur after root canal treatments are applied to the teeth adjacent to the maxillary sinus. These balls are commonly seen in the paranasal sinuses and rarely observed in the nasal cavity. This report attempted in to highlight such a rare case of fungal infection which requires accurate observation. Moreover, it highlights the importance of careful microbiological and histopathological examinations that were combined with imaging and can lead to a definitive diagnosis.

    Case report: 

    Herein, we report a rare case of a FB found in the vicinity of the nasal cavity of a 73 year-old male patient. Microbiological examination supported by radiographic and histopathological results indicated that the FB is due to Aspergillus niger. Excised surgery was done to the FB area, and the patient was referred to the post operation room with the proper recommendations. After the wound healed, the total denture was performed as requested by the patient, and his overall oral health was improved.

    Conclusion

    In this article, we report the first case of a rare FB in the vicinity of the nasal cavity of a 73-year-old male patient. The appropriate investigation is an essential step in the diagnostic process for these infections and requires effective communication and collaboration.

    Keywords: Aspergillosis, Aspergillus niger, Fungus balls, Nasal cavity
  • Shaghayegh Khojasteh, Jalal Jafarzadeh, Seyed Abdollah Hosseini, Iman Haghani, Habibollah Turki, Sanaz Aghaei Gharehbolagh, Mahdi Abastabar, Shahram Mahmoudi * Pages 44-50

    Since its first emergence in December 2019, due to its fast distribution throughout the world, SARS-COV-2 become a global concern. With the extremely increased number of hospitalized patients, this situation provided a potential basis for the transmission of nosocomial infections. Candida auris is a multidrug-resistant pathogen with improved transmission dynamics and resistance traits. During the worldwide spread of COVID-19, cases or outbreaks of C. auris colonization or infection have been reported. Resistance to antifungal drugs has been observed in the causative agents of the majority of such cases. The focus in this review is on COVID-19-associated C. auris infections (case studies/outbreaks) and the pandemic's potential effect on antifungal drug resistance.

    Keywords: Candida auris, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Antifungal Resistance, co-infection