Laboratory practices for the diagnosis and management of mucormycosis in France, 2024.

This study investigates the diagnostic practices for mucormycosis among 30 French University Hospital mycology laboratories, in 2024. All laboratories perform both direct examination and culture, with fluorescent brighteners being the most commonly used method for direct examination. While 77 % of the participating laboratories routinely identify Mucorales to the species level, with 70 % having adopted Mucorales-specific quantitative PCR, primarily for the diagnosis of invasive fungal infections.

Routine laboratory screening for cyp51a-related azole resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus using Etest: Concordance with gene sequencing.

We evaluated the combined performance of itraconazole and voriconazole Etest® gradient concentration strips for the detection of Aspergillus fumigatus azole resistance associated with cyp51a mutations confirmed by gene sequencing. Among 118 A. fumigatus clinical isolates collected in a French center, 6 (5%) had azole resistance mutations, 5 of which were probably of environmental origin.

Features of cryptococcosis among 652 HIV-seronegative individuals in France: a cross-sectional observational study (2005-2020).

Objectives: We aimed to describe features and outcomes of cryptococcosis among HIV-seronegative individuals in a large surveillance network for cryptococcosis in France.

Methods: We included incident cases of cryptococcosis in HIV-seronegative individuals from 2005 to 2020. We compared patient characteristics, disease presentations, cryptococcal antigen results, and induction antifungal treatments according to underlying disease.

Infections Differ Among Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-Seropositive and HIV-Seronegative Individuals: Results From a Nationwide Surveillance Program in France.

Among 1107 cryptococcosis cases from the French surveillance network (2005-2020), the proportion of HIV-seronegative individuals has recently surpassed that of HIV-seropositive individuals. We observed marked differences in patient characteristics, disease presentations, cryptococcal antigen results, infecting species, and mortality according to HIV serostatus.

Faecal Viral Excretion and Gastrointestinal Co-Infection Do Not Explain Digestive Presentation in COVID-19 Patients.

The physiopathological mechanisms responsible for digestive symptoms in COVID-19 patients are still unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of faecal viral shedding on digestive symptoms and propose differential diagnoses in order to understand the gastrointestinal clinical spectrum in acute cases of COVID-19. All patients managed between March and May 2020, from whom stool samples were collected for microbiological investigations, were included.

Comparison of the Micronaut-AM System and the EUCAST Broth Microdilution Reference Method for MIC Determination of Four Antifungals against .

The Antifungal Susceptibility Testing method of the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST-AFST) is a reference technique for the determination of the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of antifungals for . However, it is time-consuming and requires expertise. Micronaut-AM (M-AM) is a fast, simple, time-saving, and ready-to-use new colorimetric method using an indicator (resazurin) to facilitate the visual reading.

Improving the Detection of Epidemic Clones in Outbreaks by Combining MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry and Deep Learning Approaches.

Identifying fungal clones propagated during outbreaks in hospital settings is a problem that increasingly confronts biologists. Current tools based on DNA sequencing or microsatellite analysis require specific manipulations that are difficult to implement in the context of routine diagnosis. Using deep learning to classify the mass spectra obtained during the routine identification of fungi by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry could be of interest to differentiate isolates belonging to epidemic clones from others.

Multicentric Analysis of the Species Distribution and Antifungal Susceptibility of Clinical Isolates from Aspergillus Section .

The clinical involvement and antifungal susceptibility of Aspergillus section are poorly known. We analyzed 52 isolates, including 48 clinical isolates, belonging to 9 species inside the section . The whole section exhibited, by the EUCAST reference method, a poor susceptibility to amphotericin B, but species/series-specific patterns were observed for azole drugs.

Hospital Clonal Outbreak of Fluconazole-Resistant Candida parapsilosis Harboring the Y132F ERG11p Substitution in a French Intensive Care Unit.

We report the first identification of a fluconazole-resistant Candida parapsilosis (FR-) strain in our hospital, which subsequently caused an outbreak involving 17 patients (12 deaths) within a 26-bed French intensive care unit. Microsatellite genotyping confirmed that all FR- isolates belonged to the same clone. Given recent reports of rapid dissemination of these emerging clones, routine testing of azole susceptibility for all Candida parapsilosis isolates should be encouraged, at least in ICU patients.

MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry Online Identification of Using the MSI-2 Application.

is an emerging pathogen which recently spread from India to Europe and that is more prone than other species of the complex to show resistance to terbinafine, resulting in the necessity of rapid identification. Here, we improved the online MSI-2 MALDI-TOF identification tool in order to identify . By multiplying the culture conditions (2 culture media and 6 stages of growth) prior to protein extractions for both test isolates and reference strains, we added 142 references corresponding to 12 strains inside the complex in the online MSI-2 database, of which 3 are strains.

Species Identification and In Vitro Antifungal Susceptibility of / Species Isolated from Clinical Respiratory Samples: A Multicenter Study.

spp. are emerging fungal pathogens, where and are the most reported species. Taxonomic and phylogenetic revisions in this genus have shown that represents a species complex, whereas is related to another genus called .

Terbinafine Resistance in Dermatophytes: A French Multicenter Prospective Study.

In recent years, we have moved from the sporadic description of terbinafine-resistant (TerR) spp. isolates to the Indian outbreak due to . Population flows have spread TerR worldwide, altering local epidemiology.

Fungal infections in mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19 during the first wave: the French multicentre MYCOVID study.

Background: Patients with severe COVID-19 have emerged as a population at high risk of invasive fungal infections (IFIs). However, to our knowledge, the prevalence of IFIs has not yet been assessed in large populations of mechanically ventilated patients. We aimed to identify the prevalence, risk factors, and mortality associated with IFIs in mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19 under intensive care.

Is laser space propulsion practical?: review.

In this paper, we review practical limitations to laser space propulsion that have been discussed in the literature. These are as follows: (1) thermal coupling to the propelled payload, which might melt it; (2) a decrease in mechanical coupling with number of pulses, which has been observed in some cases; and (3) destruction of solar panels in debris removal proposals that might create more debris rather than less. Previously, lack of data prevented definite assessments.

COVID-19-Associated Pulmonary Aspergillosis, Fungemia, and Pneumocystosis in the Intensive Care Unit: a Retrospective Multicenter Observational Cohort during the First French Pandemic Wave.

The aim of this study was to evaluate diagnostic means, host factors, delay of occurrence, and outcome of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia and fungal coinfections in the intensive care unit (ICU). From 1 February to 31 May 2020, we anonymously recorded COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA), fungemia (CA-fungemia), and pneumocystosis (CA-PCP) from 36 centers, including results on fungal biomarkers in respiratory specimens and serum. We collected data from 154 episodes of CAPA, 81 of CA-fungemia, 17 of CA-PCP, and 5 of other mold infections from 244 patients (male/female [M/F] ratio = 3.

Antifungal Susceptibility of 182 Fusarium Species Isolates from 20 European Centers: Comparison between EUCAST and Gradient Concentration Strip Methods.

We determined the susceptibility of 182 Fusarium species isolates to five antifungal drugs (amphotericin B, voriconazole, posaconazole, isavuconazole, and terbinafine) by the EUCAST method. Based on the latest taxonomic insights, isolates collected from 20 European centers were distributed into seven complexes and 27 species. The susceptibility was variable, depending on the species.

Invasive aspergillosis due to Aspergillus cryptic species: A prospective multicentre study.

Objectives: Aspergillus cryptic species are increasingly recognised causes of Aspergillus diseases, including life-threatening invasive aspergillosis (IA). However, as their accurate identification remains challenging in a routine practice, few is known from a clinical and epidemiological perspective. Recently, the MSI application has emerged as a powerful tool for the detection and identification of Aspergillus cryptic species.

Multicentric Analysis of the Species Distribution and Antifungal Susceptibility of Cryptic Isolates from Section .

The antifungal susceptibility of cryptic species is poorly known. We assessed 51 isolates, belonging to seven cryptic species, by the EUCAST reference method and the concentration gradient strip (CGS) method. Species-specific patterns were observed, with high MICs for azole drugs, except for and , and high MICs for amphotericin B for and Essential and categorical agreements between EUCAST and CGS results were between 53.

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The rapid evolution of the number of orbital debris since the beginning of the space age raises numerous problems today, mainly linked to the risk to populations due to uncontrolled atmospheric reentries, and to on-orbit collisions; such collisions may kill very precious satellites, but also regenerate swarms of new debris potentially triggering an ever increasing number of space objects in the coming years. To counter these projections, a set of standards has been prepared at international level, but it is far from being properly complied to, yet. The upcoming new space activities, "Space 4.

Antifungal susceptibility testing practices in mycology laboratories in France, 2018.

A survey of mycology laboratories for antifungal susceptibility testing (AFST) was undertaken in France in 2018, to better understand the difference in practices between the participating centers and to identify the difficulties they may encounter as well as eventual gaps with published standards and guidelines. The survey captured information from 45 mycology laboratories in France on how they perform AFST (number of strains tested, preferred method, technical and quality aspects, interpretation of the MIC values, reading and interpretation difficulties). Results indicated that 86% of respondents used Etest as AFST method, with a combination of one to seven antifungal agents tested.

Invasive Aspergillosis Due to Aspergillus Section Usti: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

Background: Aspergillus spp. of section Usti (A. ustus) represent a rare cause of invasive aspergillosis (IA).

[Chapter 4. Durability of space operations: the issue of orbital debris.].

The rapid evolution of the number of orbital debris since the beginning of the space age raises numerous problems today, mainly linked to the risk to populations due to uncontrolled atmospheric reentries, and to on-orbit collisions; such collisions may kill very precious satellites, but also regenerate swarms of new debris potentially triggering an ever increasing number of space objects in the coming years. To counter these projections, a set of standards has been prepared at international level, but it is far from being properly complied to, yet. The upcoming new space activities, “Space 4.

Multi-centric evaluation of the online MSI platform for the identification of cryptic and rare species of Aspergillus by MALDI-TOF.

The taxonomy of Aspergillus species has recently been revolutionized with the introduction of cryptic species and section concepts. However, their species-level identification in routine laboratories remains a challenge. The aim of this study was to prospectively assess the identification accuracy of cryptic species of Aspergillus in various laboratories using the mass spectrometry identification (MSI) platform, an independent and freely accessible online mass spectrometry database.