Cryptococcus neoformans/gattii and Histoplasma capsulatum var. capsulatum infections on tissue sections: diagnostic pitfalls and relevance of an integrated histomolecular diagnosis.

Cryptococcus neoformans/gattii and Histoplasma capsulatum var. capsulatum may present atypical histopathological features inducing diagnostic errors. We aimed to estimate the frequency of these atypical features on formalin-fixed tissue samples (FT) and to assess the relevance of an integrated histomolecular diagnosis using specific Histoplasma capsulatum PCR and panfungal PCR followed by Sanger sequencing and/or targeted-massive parallel sequencing (MPS).

Congenital toxoplasmosis: Fewer clinical signs at 3 years of age over the last 15 years but stable risk of materno-fetal transmission.

Risk and severity of congenital toxoplasmosis were estimated using data from 2,455 consecutive mother/child pairs. Clinical signs at 3 years were halved in the 177 children born since 2009 compared to 1996-2008 (OR=0.49; 95% Confidence interval 0.

Reverse-transcriptase real-time PCR in the diagnostic strategy for invasive infections caused by .

The aim was to develop an RT-qPCR targeting and compare its performance to that of qPCR for the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis (IA). Samples from patients of the Lyon University hospitals for whom a suspicion of IA led to the realization of an qPCR molecular diagnostic test over a 2-year period were included. The patients were classified according to the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Mycoses Study Group (EORTC-MSGERC) criteria for suspected IA; RT-qPCR and qPCR assays were performed on all included samples.

New Insights Into Infections' Risk of Adolescents and Young Adults Treated for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Background: This study aims to compare the infections' risk between adolescents and young adults (AYAs), treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and pediatric population. We also focused on their bacterial and fungal infection specificities.

Methods: This case-control study investigated the occurrence of bacterial bloodstream infection (BSI) and proven and probable invasive fungal infection (IFI) in AYAs (15-25 years old) and children (1-14 years old) treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia between January 2013 and December 2020 in 2 French tertiary pediatric and 2 referral adult hematological centers, independent of their treatment protocol.

Improving Diagnosis of Pulmonary Mucormycosis: Leads From a Contemporary National Study of 114 Cases.

Background: Pulmonary mucormycosis (PM) is a life-threatening invasive mold infection. Diagnosis of mucormycosis is challenging and often delayed, resulting in higher mortality.

Research Question: Are the disease presentation of PM and contribution of diagnosis tools influenced by the patient's underlying condition?

Study Design And Methods: All PM cases from six French teaching hospitals between 2008 and 2019 were retrospectively reviewed.

Use of 1,3-Beta-D-Glucan concentration in peritoneal fluid for the diagnosis of intra-abdominal Candidiasis in Critically-ill patients.

Intra-Abdominal Candidiasis (IAC) is frequent and associated with high mortality in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Antifungal treatments may be overused due to a lack of diagnostic tools to rule out IAC. Serum 1,3-Beta-D-Glucan (BDG) concentrations are used to diagnose Candida infections, its concentration in peritoneal fluid (PF) may help to confirm or invalidate the diagnosis of IAC.

Fungal Integrated Histomolecular Diagnosis Using Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing on Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded Tissues.

Histopathology is the gold standard for fungal infection (FI) diagnosis, but it does not provide a genus and/or species identification. The objective of the present study was to develop targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) on formalin-fixed tissue samples (FTs) to achieve a fungal integrated histomolecular diagnosis. Nucleic acid extraction was optimized on a first group of 30 FTs with Aspergillus fumigatus or infection by macrodissecting the microscopically identified fungal-rich area and comparing Qiagen and Promega extraction methods through DNA amplification by A.

Gradient concentration strip-specific epidemiological cut-off values of antifungal drugs in various yeast species and five prevalent Aspergillus species complexes.

Objectives: To determine the epidemiological cut-off values (ECVs) of ten antifungal agents in a wide range of yeasts and Aspergillus spp. using gradient concentration strips.

Methods: The minimum inhibitory concentrations for amphotericin B, anidulafungin, caspofungin, micafungin, flucytosine, fluconazole, itraconazole, isavuconazole, posaconazole, and voriconazole, determined with gradient concentration strips at 35 French microbiology laboratories between 2002 and 2020, were retrospectively collected.

[Invasive fungal infections in immunocompromised children in paediatric haematology: Recommendations for management in SFCE centres].

Introduction: To date, invasive fungal infections (IFIs) are still responsible for a high mortality rate in children managed for haematological malignancy. Although Candida and Aspergillus infections remain in the majority, emerging fungal infections are increasingly common. Children differ from adults in their pathology and treatment, as well as in their prior fungal colonisation and unique pharmacokinetics.

Fatal Community-Acquired Peritonitis Due to Invasive Necrotizing Intestinal Mucormycosis: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

We report here a rare case of fatal rapidly progressive necrotizing gastrointestinal mucormycosis due to Mucor circinelloides f. circinelloides in the setting of community-acquired peritonitis, in an immunocompromised adult patient. Diagnosis was established by direct examination of peritoneal fluid showing hyphae consistent with mucormycosis confirmed by the culture.

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.

Azole resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus isolates from respiratory specimens in Lyon University Hospitals, France: prevalence and mechanisms involved.

Resistance of Aspergillus fumigatus to triazoles has been reported increasingly in Europe. As few data are available from Southern France, the objectives of this study were to assess the burden of A. fumigatus isolates with azole resistance from clinical specimens in Lyon, and explore the resistance mechanisms involved.

Chronic Toxoplasma gondii infection and sleep-wake alterations in mice.

Aim: Toxoplasma gondii (Tg) is an intracellular parasite infecting more than a third of the human population. Yet, the impact of Tg infection on sleep, a highly sensitive index of brain functions, remains unknown. We designed an experimental mouse model of chronic Tg infection to assess the effects on sleep-wake states.

Invasive Fungal Infections in Immunocompromised Children: Novel Insight Following a National Study.

Objective: To obtain a national overview of the epidemiology and management of invasive fungal infections (IFIs) in France for severely immunocompromised children who were treated for acute leukemia or had undergone allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (a-HSCT).

Study Design: We performed a national multicenter retrospective study to collect epidemiologic data for proven and probable IFIs in children with acute leukemia under first- line or relapse treatment or who had undergone a-HSCT. We also conducted a prospective practice survey to provide a national overview of IFI management in pediatric hematology units.

COVID-19-Associated Pulmonary Aspergillosis, March-August 2020.

Pneumonia caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 emerged in China at the end of 2019. Because of the severe immunomodulation and lymphocyte depletion caused by this virus and the subsequent administration of drugs directed at the immune system, we anticipated that patients might experience fungal superinfection. We collected data from 186 patients who had coronavirus disease-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) worldwide during March-August 2020.

Serology for Toxoplasma in Immunocompromised Patients: Still Useful?

Toxoplasmosis represents one of the most common comorbidity factors in solid organ or hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients as well as in other immunocompromised patients. In the past decades, availability and performance of molecular tools for the diagnosis or the exclusion of toxoplasmosis in these patients have greatly improved. However, if accurately used, serology remains a complementary and essential diagnostic tool for physicians and medical parasitologists for the prevention and management of toxoplasmosis in immunocompromised patients as well.

Fast-Growing Alveolar Echinococcosis Following Lung Transplantation.

Alveolar echinococcosis is a rare but life-threatening infection caused by the parasite . Its natural history is characterized by a slow parasitic growth over several years. Increased incidence and shorter development delay have been reported in immune-compromised patients.

Pulmonary aspergillosis in critically ill patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Unlabelled: Occurrence of putative invasive pulmonary aspergillosis was screened in 153 consecutive adult intensive care unit (ICU) patients with respiratory samples addressed for mycological diagnosis during a 6-week period at the emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Positive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was observed for 106 patients (69.3%).

Needles in a haystack: Extremely rare invasive fungal infections reported in FungiScope-Global Registry for Emerging Fungal Infections.

Objectives: Emerging invasive fungal infections (IFI) have become a notable challenge. Apart from the more frequently described fusariosis, lomentosporiosis, mucormycosis, scedosporiosis, and certain dematiaceae or yeasts, little is known about extremely rare IFI.

Methods: Extremely rare IFI collected in the FungiScope registry were grouped as Dematiaceae, Hypocreales, Saccharomycetales, Eurotiales, Dermatomycetes, Agaricales, and Mucorales.

Aspergillus endophthalmitis: Potential role for vitreous galactomannan testing?

Eye damage during invasive aspergillosis is rarely described and biological diagnosis remains challenging. Here we report the case of a heart transplant recipient with ocular aspergillosis complicating disseminated aspergillosis. Although voriconazole was rapidly given, a decrease in visual acuity of the right eye was consistent with endophthalmitis, resulting in an emergency vitrectomy.

Fortuitous diagnosis of Trichomoniasis by PCR using panfungal primers.

We report the unusual diagnosis of trichomoniasis in an 18year old patient suffering from salpingitis. Chlamydiae, Mycoplasma and Gardnerella vaginalis were diagnosed using classic laboratory procedures. However, T.