Expert review of anti-infective therapy
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Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther · Sep 2017
ReviewTreatment of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in HIV-infected patients: a review.
Pneumocystis pneumonia is a potentially life-threatening pulmonary infection that occurs in immunocompromised individuals and HIV-infected patients with a low CD4 cell count. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole has been used as the first-line agent for treatment, but mutations within dihydropteroate synthase gene render potential resistance to sulfamide. Despite advances of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), Pneumocystis pneumonia continues to occur in HIV-infected patients with late presentation for cART or virological and immunological failure after receiving cART. ⋯ Expert commentary: Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole will continue to be the first-line agent for Pneumocystis pneumonia given its cost, availability of both oral and parenteral formulations, and effectiveness or efficacy in both treatment and prophylaxis. Whether resistance due to mutations within dihydropteroate synthase gene compromises treatment effectiveness remains controversial. Continued search for effective alternatives with better safety profiles for Pneumocystis pneumonia is warranted.
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Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther · Sep 2017
ReviewCandida auris: a worrisome, globally emerging pathogen.
Candida auris is a recently discovered, rapidly emerging fungal pathogen. Infections due to C. auris are hospital-acquired, multidrug resistant and associated with high mortality. Areas covered: This review highlights epidemiology, pathogenesis, microbiological characteristics, clinical presentation, diagnostic challenges and treatment options of C. auris infections. ⋯ Early diagnosis of C. auris is essential for better outcomes and the implementation of infection prevention measures. Lack of widespread awareness, absence of general availability of diagnostic testing methods, and limited options for treatment of C. auris infections make it a difficult-to-treat pathogen. Further studies are needed for better understanding of this emerging pathogen.