Effect of increasing inoculum sizes of Aspergillus hyphae on MICs and MFCs of antifungal agents by broth microdilution method.

In order to investigate the influence of different hyphal inoculum sizes on minimal inhibition concentrations (MICs) and minimum fungicidal concentrations (MFCs) of amphotericin B (AMB), voriconazole and itraconazole, five isolates each of Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus terreus were studied using a broth microdilution method. Three inoculum sizes were used: 1 x 10(3)-5 x 10(3), 1 x 10(4)-5 x 10(4) and 1 x 10(5)-5 x 10(5) cfu/ml. MICs and MFCs were read at 24 and 48 h at 35 degrees C.

Visceral leishmaniasis in an AIDS patient on successful antiretroviral therapy: failure of parasite eradication despite increase in CD4+ T-cell count but low CD8+ T-cell count.

An unusual cutaneous relapse of visceral leishmaniasis (initially mistaken for eruptive histiocytomas) was seen in an AIDS patient despite good virological and CD4+ T-cell responses to highly active antiretroviral therapy. Splenectomy and the patient's low CD8+ T-cell count are discussed as possible causes of failed disease control.

Complications after laryngeal surgery: videofluoroscopic evaluation of 120 patients.

Aim: Videofluoroscopic assessment of the spectrum and incidence of swallowing complications after state-of-the-art laryngeal cancer surgery.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively studied videofluoroscopic examinations of 120 patients (94 men, 26 women; mean age, 58 years) with suspected complications after laryngeal resection (partial laryngectomy, 65; total laryngectomy, 55). Swallowing function (i.

Aspergillus terreus infections in haematological malignancies: molecular epidemiology suggests association with in-hospital plants.

During a three-year period nine patients with haematological diseases after myeloablative chemotherapy died from invasive fungal infections caused by Aspergillus terreus. The hospital inanimate environment was monitored and A. terreus was cultured from potted plants in the vicinity of the patients.