Distribution and drug susceptibilities of Candida species causing candidemia from a medical center in central Taiwan.

Invasive fungal infections have increased significantly in the past few decades because of the increase in high-risk populations. To investigate the distribution and drug susceptibilities of such infections, we analyzed all 152 Candida isolates causing candidemia from 2004 to 2006 at the China Medical University Hospital, a medical center in central Taiwan. Candida albicans was the most common species, accounting for 52.

Susceptibilities to amphotericin B, fluconazole and voriconazole of Trichosporon clinical isolates.

A total of 35 Trichosporon isolates were collected from the Taiwan Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance of Yeasts (TSARY) project from 1999 to 2006, and their identifications as well as drug susceptibilities were determined. The most frequently isolated species was T. asahii (62.

Characterization of Candida species from different populations in Taiwan.

The opportunistic Candida species existing as part of commensal microbiota in humans are usually the etiological agents causing infections. We investigated whether isolates collected from different age groups, hospital units, and sources have distinct characteristics. A total of 913 isolates comprising 395 Candida albicans, 230 Candida tropicalis, 202 Candida glabrata, 62 Candida parapsilosis, 13 Candida krusei, and 11 of other six species were analyzed.

Oropharyngeal colonization of HIV-infected outpatients in Taiwan by yeast pathogens.

Among 234 isolates comprising 26 different Candida species colonizing the oropharynx of 181 (54.3% of 399 surveyed) HIV-infected outpatients, 27 (11.7%) were fluconazole resistant.

Species distribution and antifungal susceptibility of blood Candida isolates at a tertiary hospital in southern Taiwan, 1999-2006.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of candidaemia, consumption of fluconazole and susceptibility of blood Candida isolates at a tertiary hospital. From January 1999 to September 2006, all candidaemic episodes were identified and available strains were evaluated for the susceptibilities of antifungal agents. Annual defined daily doses of antifungal agents were collected.

Two closely related fluconazole-resistant Candida tropicalis clones circulating in Taiwan from 1999 to 2006.

Recently, we reported that diploid sequence type (DST) 140 was a predominant type of Candida tropicalis among isolates with fluconazole minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) >or=64 microg/ml collected in the Taiwan Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance of Yeasts (TSARY) in 1999. To determine if DST140 persists in Taiwan, we have used multilocus sequence typing to characterize the genetic profiles of 31 resistant isolates (MICs >or=64 microg/ml), together with 19 susceptible isolates (MICs View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Increased potency of a novel D-beta-naphthylalanine-substituted antimicrobial peptide against fluconazole-resistant fungal pathogens.

The antifungal activities of the known antimicrobial peptide, P-113, as well as a new type of Trp-rich peptide, Ac-KWRRWVRWI-NH(2), Pac-525, and its modified peptide, D-Nal-Pac-525, were determined using the broth microdilution method in three different media. All peptides had similar activities against yeast pathogens in low-salt LYM media. However, only D-Nal-Pac-525 retained its antifungal activity in the media containing high concentrations of salt.

Susceptibilities to amphotericin B and fluconazole of Candida species in Taiwan Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance of Yeasts 2006.

Susceptibilities to amphotericin B and fluconazole of 964 Candida isolates collected in Taiwan Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance of Yeasts in 2006 were determined. There were 419 (43.5%) Candida albicans, 246 (25.