Mycoses
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Invasive candidiasis is a common nosocomial infection among critically ill patients, constitutes an important cause of sepsis, and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) has created evidence-based guidelines for the management of invasive candidiasis. ⋯ Further, the role of antifungals is not entirely clear in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting. Therefore, this article discusses daily problems in the prophylaxis and treatment of invasive candidasis in interdisciplinary ICUs.
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We discuss different strategies for the treatment of invasive fungal infections (IFI) in high risk patients with a focus on patients experiencing profound and prolonged neutropenia, comprising those with acute myelogenous leukaemia (AML) or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) during remission induction chemotherapy and on patients undergoing allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (SCT). Among these patients, invasive aspergillosis (IA) is the most frequently observed form of IFI, as opposed to high risk intensive care unit (ICU) patients in whom an increased incidence of invasive candidiasis (IC) can be observed. In both groups, initiation of early treatment has a profound impact on mortality rates, but adequate diagnostic tools are lacking. ⋯ Patients with susceptible Candida spp. may be switched to fluconazole. Caspofungin or micafungin might be preferred to anidulafungin in the neutropenic patient. L-AmB is a valuable second line treatment option for both groups of patients.
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Candida species constitute the majority of nosocomial fungal pathogens in non-neutropenic patients. Candida infections are still connected with substantial mortality. ⋯ In invasive candidiasis, a delayed treatment initiation is associated with an increased mortality, thus risk stratification and empirical therapy strategies become vitally important. This review reflects the efficacy of caspofungin in the treatment of Candida infections, especially in the setting of empirical therapy in critically ill patients, and considers the option of de-escalation to fluconazole.
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Himachal Pradesh, India is a known endemic area for cutaneous sporotrichosis. No attempt has been made to isolate Sporothrix schenckii, the causative fungus, from environmental sources in this region or in India as such. This prospective study was carried out to isolate Sporothrix schenckii from different environmental samples collected from the vicinity of cutaneous sporotrichosis patients. ⋯ Temperature dimorphism was observed in all the 10 isolates obtained from the clinical specimens and in two isolates cultured from corn-stalk. Corn-stalks are evidently important sources of Sporothrix schenckii infection although subsequent contamination of wounds appears more important for development of clinical disease. Culture of Sporothrix schenckii from environmental sources may not be always possible to correlate with profile of injuries.
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Letter Case Reports
Multiple Scedosporium apiospermum brain abscesses after near-drowning successfully treated with surgery and long-term voriconazole: a case report.
Scedosporium apiospermum is an emerging fungal pathogen, increasingly recognised as a cause of infection not only in immunocompromised, but also in non-immunodeficient patients. We present the case of an immunocompetent 21-year-old Thai man who experienced recurrent ruptured mycotic aneurysms and developed multiple S. apiospermum brain abscesses following aspiration of polluted water. ⋯ Voriconazole penetrated the central nervous system (CNS) well and had limited toxicity, despite prolonged treatment. Voriconazole appears to be the antifungal agent of choice in the treatment of CNS scedosporiosis caused by S. apiospermum.