The impact of the COVID-19 on the antifungal consumption and antifungal resistance in Candida species isolated from the blood cultures of critically ill patients in intensive care units.

Incidence of Candida species increased in critically ill COVID-19 patients in intensive care units. This study aimed to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on antifungal consumption and Candida species distribution in bloodstream infections. We observed that a significant increase in non-albicans Candida species cases (p = 0.

Impact of Aspergillus PCR on the management of invasive aspergillosis: A tertiary care hospital experience during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aim: To assess the impact of Aspergillus PCR on managing invasive aspergillosis (IA) in routine patient management.

Methods: A retrospective study included 235 patients who had Aspergillus PCR tests performed on respiratory samples (bronchoalveolar lavage, non-bronchoscopic lavage, and sputum) from November 2020 to April 2022.

Results: Of 293 tests, 11.

Fungal Nomenclature: One Fungus, One Name?

Fungal nomenclature has been subject to change for many years and will probably continue to evolve and change in the future. One Fungus One Name principle guided the mycologists to reach a consensus on a single name. The change is inevitable in science; however, it comes with several challenges particularly in routine mycology laboratory practice and patient care, creating further difficulties and resistance to change.

New Ester-Containing Azole Derivatives With Potent Anti-Candida Effects: Synthesis, Antifungal Susceptibility, Cytotoxicity, and Molecular Modeling Studies.

Mortalities due to mycoses have dramatically increased with the emergence of drug-resistant strains and growing immune-compromised populations globally. Azole antifungals have been the first choice against fungal infections of a wide spectrum and several azole derivatives with ester function were reported for their potentially promising and favorable activity against Candida spp. In this study, we designed and synthesized a series of 1-(aryl)-2-(1H-imidazol-1-yl/1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)ethyl esters, and tested them against seven reference Candida strains using EUCAST reference microdilution method.

Insights from Three Pan-European Multicentre Studies on Invasive Candida Infections and Outlook to ECMM Candida IV.

Invasive candidiasis and candidemia remain a significant public health concern. The European Confederation of Medical Mycology (ECMM) conducted three pan-European multicentre studies from 1997 to 2022 to investigate various aspects of invasive Candida infections. These studies revealed shifting trends in Candida species distribution, with an increase of non-albicans Candida species as causative pathogens, increasing rates of antifungal resistance, and persistently high mortality rates.

Attributable mortality of candidemia - Results from the ECMM Candida III multinational European Observational Cohort Study.

Introduction: Despite antifungal advancements, candidaemia still has a high mortality rate of up to 40%. The ECMM Candida III study in Europe investigated the changing epidemiology and outcomes of candidaemia for better understanding and management of these infections.

Methods: In this observational cohort study, participating hospitals enrolled the first ten consecutive adults with blood culture-proven candidemia.

[Lomentospora prolificans Fungemia in a Patient With T-Cell Large Granular Leukemia: A Rare Pathogen in Türkiye].

Scedosporium/Lomentospora is an opportunistic fungal pathogen found worldwide. While Scedosporium apiospermum and Scedosporium boydii are commonly observed globally, Lomentospora prolificans, which mainly affects immunosuppressed individuals, is rarely encountered and is more prevalent in arid climates, particularly in Australia and Spain. L.

Invasive fungal rhinosinusitis by Fusarium proliferatum/annulatum in a patient with acute myeloid leukemia: A case report and review of the literature.

Antifungal prophylaxis with a mold-effective agent has led to a substantial decrease in invasive infections caused by Aspergillus spp. in the management of patients with acute myeloid leukemia undergoing induction chemotherapy. However, difficult-to-treat infections caused by other molds, such as Fusarium, Lomentospora, and Scedosporium species may still complicate the neutropenic period.

Diagnostic performance and longitudinal analysis of fungal biomarkers in COVID-19 associated pulmonary aspergillosis.

Objectives: Galactomannan lateral flow assay (GM-LFA) is a reliable test for COVID-19 associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) diagnosis We aimed to assess the diagnostic performance of GM-LFA with different case definitions, the association between the longitudinal measurements of serum GM-ELISA, GM-LFA, and the risk of death.

Methods: Serum and nondirected bronchial lavage (NBL) samples were periodically collected. The sensitivity and specificity analysis for GM-LFA was done in different time periods.

Necrotizing pneumonia due to Aspergillus and Salmonella after immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment: An unusual case and review of the literature.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are a promising new treatment for different types of cancer. The infectious complications in patients taking ICIs are rare.

Case Report: A 58-year-old male who received chemotherapy consisting of pembrolizumab (PD-1 inhibitor) for esophagus squamous cell carcinoma one month before was admitted to the emergency room with shortness of breath soon after fiberoptic bronchoscopy, which was done for the inspection of the lower airway.

Predictors for Prolonged Hospital Stay Solely to Complete Intravenous Antifungal Treatment in Patients with Candidemia: Results from the ECMM Candida III Multinational European Observational Cohort Study.

Background: To date, azoles represent the only viable option for oral treatment of invasive Candida infections, while rates of azole resistance among non-albicans Candida spp. continue to increase. The objective of this sub-analysis of the European multicenter observational cohort study Candida III was to describe demographical and clinical characteristics of the cohort requiring prolonged hospitalization solely to complete intravenous (iv) antifungal treatment (AF Tx).

Rational Design of New Monoterpene-Containing Azoles and Their Antifungal Activity.

Azole antifungals, including fluconazole, have long been the first-line antifungal agents in the fight against fungal infections. The emergence of drug-resistant strains and the associated increase in mortality from systemic mycoses has prompted the development of new agents based on azoles. We reported a synthesis of novel monoterpene-containing azoles with high antifungal activity and low cytotoxicity.

A case-control study of the effects of Aspergillus clinical phenotypes on pulmonary functions in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Introduction: There are no precise data about the effect of Aspergillus infection on lung function other than allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) in patients with cystic fibrosis (pwCF). Here, we aimed to determine clinical phenotypes caused by Aspergillus spp. using laboratory and immunologic parameters and to compare Aspergillus phenotypes in terms of pulmonary function tests (PFT) prospectively.

The current state of laboratory mycology and access to antifungal treatment in Europe: a European Confederation of Medical Mycology survey.

Access to the appropriate tools is crucial for early diagnosis and clinical management of invasive fungal infections. This Review aims to describe the invasive fungal infection diagnostic capacity of Europe to better understand the status and the most pressing aspects that need improvement. To our knowledge, this is the first time that the mycological diagnostic capability and access to antifungal treatments of institutions has been evaluated at a pan-European level.

Environmental and bioclimatic factors influencing yeasts and molds distribution along European shores.

The present study employed data collected during the Mycosands survey to investigate the environmental factors influencing yeasts and molds distribution along European shores applying a species distribution modelling approach. Occurrence data were compared to climatic datasets (temperature, precipitation, and solar radiation), soil datasets (chemical and physical properties), and water datasets (temperature, salinity, and chlorophyll-a concentration) downloaded from web databases. Analyses were performed by MaxEnt software.

Multicentre validation of a modified EUCAST MIC testing method and development of associated epidemiologic cut-off (ECOFF) values for rezafungin.

Objectives: Rezafungin EUCAST MIC testing has been associated with notable inter-laboratory variation, which prevented ECOFF setting for C. albicans. We assessed in vitro susceptibility and reproducibility for a modified EUCAST methodology and established associated wild-type upper limits (WT-ULs).

A screening study for COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis in critically ill patients during the third wave of the pandemic.

Background: COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) has been reported as an important cause of mortality in critically ill patients with an incidence rate ranging from 5% to 35% during the first and second pandemic waves.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the incidence, risk factors for CAPA by a screening protocol and outcome in the critically ill patients during the third wave of the pandemic.

Patients/methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted in two intensive care units (ICU) designated for patients with COVID-19 in a tertiary care university hospital between 18 November 2020 and 24 April 2021.