Non-Aspergillus Hyaline Molds: Emerging Causes of Sino-Pulmonary Fungal Infections and Other Invasive Mycoses

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (01) ◽  
pp. 115-130
Author(s):  
Samantha E. Jacobs ◽  
Nancy L. Wengenack ◽  
Thomas J. Walsh
Keyword(s):  
Fungal Infections ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Laboratory Diagnostics ◽  
Opportunistic Pathogens ◽  
Penicillium Species ◽  
Trichoderma Spp ◽  
Purpureocillium Lilacinum ◽  
Neutropenic Patients ◽  
Expanding Population ◽  
Microbiologic Diagnosis

AbstractHyaline molds, widely distributed in nature, are an important and increasing cause of invasive fungal infections in humans, likely due to an expanding population of immunosuppressed hosts, increases in antifungal resistance, and improvements in laboratory diagnostics. Sinopulmonary disease and disseminated infection are common manifestations in neutropenic patients and transplant recipients, whereas, catheter-related and localized soft tissue infections predominate in immunocompetent hosts. These organisms are not reliably differentiated based on their morphology in tissue; rather, efforts should be made to establish a microbiologic diagnosis via culture or molecular-based methods to guide antifungal management and inform prognosis. Herein, we review the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and management of these opportunistic pathogens known to cause hyalohyphomycoses: Scedosporium spp., Lomentospora prolificans, Fusarium spp., Scopulariopsis spp., Arthrographis kalrae, Trichoderma spp., Acremonium spp., Paecilomyces variotii, Purpureocillium lilacinum, and Penicillium species.

scholarly journals Estimated Burden of Fungal Infections in Oman

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 5
Author(s):  
Abdullah M. S. Al-Hatmi ◽  
Mohammed A. Al-Shuhoumi ◽  
David W. Denning
Keyword(s):  
Fungal Infection ◽  
Fungal Infections ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Vaginal Candidiasis ◽  
Skin Infections ◽  
Opportunistic Pathogens ◽  
Fungal Rhinosinusitis ◽  
Populations At Risk ◽  
Different Populations ◽  
Underlying Pathology

For many years, fungi have emerged as significant and frequent opportunistic pathogens and nosocomial infections in many different populations at risk. Fungal infections include disease that varies from superficial to disseminated infections which are often fatal. No fungal disease is reportable in Oman. Many cases are admitted with underlying pathology, and fungal infection is often not documented. The burden of fungal infections in Oman is still unknown. Using disease frequencies from heterogeneous and robust data sources, we provide an estimation of the incidence and prevalence of Oman’s fungal diseases. An estimated 79,520 people in Oman are affected by a serious fungal infection each year, 1.7% of the population, not including fungal skin infections, chronic fungal rhinosinusitis or otitis externa. These figures are dominated by vaginal candidiasis, followed by allergic respiratory disease (fungal asthma). An estimated 244 patients develop invasive aspergillosis and at least 230 candidemia annually (5.4 and 5.0 per 100,000). Only culture and microscopy are currently available for diagnosis, so case detection is suboptimal. Uncertainty surrounds these figures that trigger the need for urgent local epidemiological studies with more sensitive diagnostics.

scholarly journals Primary immune deficiencies with defects in neutrophil function

Hematology ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary C. Dinauer
Keyword(s):  
Fungal Infections ◽  
Leukocyte Adhesion ◽  
Genetic Disorders ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Adaptor Protein ◽  
Invasive Fungal Disease ◽  
Neutrophil Function ◽  
Microbial Pathogens ◽  
Immune Deficiencies

Abstract Immune deficiencies resulting from inherited defects in neutrophil function have revealed important features of the innate immune response. Although sharing an increased susceptibility to bacterial and fungal infections, these disorders each have distinctive features in their clinical manifestations and characteristic microbial pathogens. This review provides an update on several genetic disorders with impaired neutrophil function, their pathogenesis, and treatment strategies. These include chronic granulomatous disease, which results from inactivating mutations in the superoxide-generating nicotinamide dinucleotide phosphate oxidase. Superoxide-derived oxidants play an important role in the control of certain bacterial and fungal species, and also contribute to the regulation of inflammation. Also briefly summarized are updates on leukocyte adhesion deficiency, including the severe periodontal disease characteristic of this disorder, and a new immune deficiency associated with defects in caspase recruitment domain–containing protein 9, an adaptor protein that regulates signaling in neutrophils and other myeloid cells, leading to invasive fungal disease.

Fungal infection after endothelial keratoplasty: association with hypothermic corneal storage

2018 ◽  
Vol 103 (10) ◽  
pp. 1487-1490 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola Lau ◽  
Aida Hajjar Sesé ◽  
Victor A Augustin ◽  
Geert Kuit ◽  
Mark R Wilkins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organ Culture ◽  
Fungal Infection ◽  
Fungal Infections ◽  
Case Definition ◽  
Endothelial Keratoplasty ◽  
Donor Tissue ◽  
Purpureocillium Lilacinum ◽  
Eye Banks ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Host Cornea

PurposeTo compare the incidence of fungal infection after endothelial keratoplasty (EK) when donor tissue had been stored in hypothermic medium or organ culture.MethodsWe describe the clinical features of 10 cases of fungal infection (keratitis or endophthalmitis) following EK identified at three European centres. Case definition was the culture of fungus or a positive PCR from the host cornea or anterior chamber after EK. A survey of the incidence of infection after EK was conducted by the European Eye Bank Association. The main outcome measure was the number of cases in which donor tissue had been stored in hypothermic medium compared with organ culture.ResultsThe 10 cases occurred between 2014 and 2017. All donor corneas had been stored in hypothermic medium sourced from three US eye banks. Three pairs of mate corneas caused infections in six recipients. Candida spp were identified from nine cases, with one isolate of Purpureocillium lilacinum. Data on 16 862 corneas supplied for EK were available from 16 European eye banks for the 5-year period from 2012. There were 17 reported cases of infection, of which 15 (88%) were fungal infections and 14 (82%) were Candida spp. Fungal infection was reported from 3 of 14 476 (0.02%) corneas supplied in organ culture compared with 12 of 2386 (0.50%) corneas supplied in hypothermic medium (p<0.0001). The incidence of infection after hypothermic storage was similar for material sourced from Europe (0.52%) or the USA (0.61%).ConclusionsInfection after EK is strongly associated with Candida spp. The possible explanations for the higher incidence of infection when tissue is stored in hypothermic medium are discussed.

scholarly journals Is Staphylococcus lugdunensis Significant in Clinical Samples?

2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (11) ◽  
pp. 3167-3174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xavier Argemi ◽  
Yves Hansmann ◽  
Philippe Riegel ◽  
Gilles Prévost
Keyword(s):  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Opportunistic Pathogens ◽  
Coagulase Negative Staphylococci ◽  
Staphylococcus Lugdunensis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Severe Infections ◽  
Microbiological Data

ABSTRACTThe implication of coagulase-negative staphylococci in human diseases is a major issue, particularly in hospital settings wherein these species often act as opportunistic pathogens. In addition, some coagulase-negative staphylococci such asS. lugdunensishave emerged as pathogenic bacteria, implicated in severe infections, particularly, osteoarticular infections, foreign-body-associated infections, bacteremia, and endocarditis.In vitrostudies have shown the presence of several putative virulence factors such as adhesion factors, biofilm production, and proteolytic factors that might explain clinical manifestations. Taken together, the clinical and microbiological data might change the way clinicians and microbiologists look atS. lugdunensisin clinical samples.

scholarly journals Do Mast Cells Contribute to the Antifungal Host Defense?

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 2510
Author(s):  
Paulina Żelechowska ◽  
Joanna Pastwińska ◽  
Ewa Brzezińska-Błaszczyk ◽  
Justyna Agier
Keyword(s):  
Mast Cells ◽  
Host Defense ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Defense Mechanisms ◽  
Fungal Infections ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Extracellular Dna ◽  
Opportunistic Pathogens ◽  
Strategic Location ◽  
Fungal Kingdom

The fungal kingdom includes a group of microorganisms that are widely distributed in the environment, and therefore the exposure to them is almost constant. Furthermore, fungal components of the microbiome, i.e., mycobiome, could serve as a reservoir of potentially opportunistic pathogens. Despite close encounters with fungi, defense mechanisms that develop during fungal infections remain unexplored. The strategic location of mast cells (MCs) close to the external environment places them among the first cells to encounter pathogens along with the other innate immune cells. MCs are directly involved in the host defense through the ability to destroy pathogens or indirectly by activating other immune cells. Most available data present MCs’ involvement in antibacterial, antiviral, or antiparasitic defense mechanisms. However, less is known about their contribution in defense mechanisms against fungi. MCs may support immune responses to fungi or their specific molecules through initiated degranulation, synthesis and release of cytokines, chemokines, mediators, and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), as well as immune cells’ recruitment, phagocytosis, or provision of extracellular DNA traps. This review summarizes current knowledge on host defense mechanisms against fungi and MCs’ involvement in those processes. It also describes the effects of fungi or fungus-derived constituents on MCs’ activity.

scholarly journals Clinical observation of Сhronic granulomatous disease in a 6-year-old child

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 69-72
Author(s):  
G. A. Kharchenko ◽  
O. G. Kimirilova
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Granulomatous Disease ◽  
Clinical Observation ◽  
Fungal Infections ◽  
Genetic Defect ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Hereditary Disease ◽  
Laboratory Method ◽  
Granulomatous Disease ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem ◽  
Nbt Test

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a hereditary disease caused by a genetic defect of violations of oxygen — dependent mechanisms of phagocytosis. Clinical manifestations of the disease are recurrent bacterial or fungal infections of the skin, hepatic abscesses, pneumonia, osteomyelitis, sepsis, meningitis et al. Most available laboratory method for the diagnosis of CGD is the test of histochemical nitro blue tetrazolium recovery (NBT-test). Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is considered a radical treatment for chronic granulomatous disease. The article presents a clinical observation of the manifestation of chronic granulomatous disease with an unfavorable outcome in a child aged 6 years.

The efficacy of itraconazole against systemic fungal infections in neutropenic patients: A randomised comparative study with amphotericin B

1991 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.W. van't Wout ◽  
I. Novakova ◽  
C.A.H. Verhagen ◽  
W.E. Fibbe ◽  
B.E. de Pauw ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Study ◽  
Amphotericin B ◽  
Fungal Infections ◽  
Neutropenic Patients

Cases of Q fever detected in residents of the novosibirsk region hospitalized with suspection of infections transmitted by ticks

2021 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 229-236
Author(s):  
E. I. Bondarenko ◽  
E. S. Filimonova ◽  
E. I. Krasnova ◽  
E. V. Krinitsina ◽  
S. E. Tkachev
Keyword(s):  
Causative Agent ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Test Methods ◽  
Pcr Analysis ◽  
Laboratory Diagnostics ◽  
Novosibirsk Region ◽  
Complex Approach ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Republic

Coxiella burnetii is the causative agent of Q fever (coxiellosis), which, in addition to acute manifestations, often occurs in a latent form, is prone to chronic course and, in the absence of antibiotic therapy, has a high risk of disability or death. As a result of the presence of a wide range of clinical manifestations specific to other infectious diseases, the use of laboratory test methods (LTM) is required to make a diagnosis. The presence of Q fever anthropurgic foci in the Novosibirsk region was described in the 90s of the last century, but due attention to its laboratory diagnostics is not paid in this region. The aim of the study was to identify genetic and serological markers of the causative agent, C. burnetii, in patients of the Novosibirsk region who were admitted for treatment with fever with suspected tick-borne infections (TBIs). DNA marker of the causative agent of Q fever was detected in blood samples by real time PCR in 9 out of 325 patients. In three patients, the presence of C. burnetii DNA was confirmed by sequencing of the IS1111 and htpB gene fragments. In ELISA tests, antibodies against the causative agent of coxiellosis were detected in the blood sera of 4 patients with positive results of PCR analysis. Contact with tick was registered in 7 out of 9 patients who had C. burnetii DNA and lacked markers of other TBIs. Six people were infected in the Novosibirsk region, two suffered from tick’s bite in Altai, and one case was from the Republic of Kyrgyzstan. Thus, a complex approach using both PCR analysis and ELISA provided the identification of markers of the Q fever causative agent in patients admitted with suspected TBIs, thereby differentiating it from other infections. Contact with ticks in most cases suggests that infection with C. burnetii had a transmissible pathway.

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