Candida nivariensis as a New Emergent Agent of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis: Description of Cases and Review of Published Studies.

Candida nivariensis is a new emergent agent related to human infections in the vaginal tract and other localizations, but the phenotypic characteristics are very similar to Candida glabrata and can be misidentified and underdiagnosed. We described four cases of vulvovaginitis identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and confirmed the results with PCR amplification and sequencing of the entire ITS genomic region (ITS1, ITS2 and 5.8 rRNA).

[Evaluation of mass spectrometry for the identification of clinically interesting yeasts].

Introduction: Identification of yeasts is based on morphological, biochemical and nutritional characteristics, and using molecular methods. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry, a new method for the identification of microorganisms, has demonstrated to be very useful. The aim of this study is to evaluate this new method in the identification of yeasts.

[Infections due to Mycobacterium simiae].

Mycobacterium simiae is a slow-growing photochromogenic environmental mycobacterium, first described in 1965. Rarely associated with human infections, possibly due to its limited pathogenicity, it mainly produces lung infection in immunocompetent elderly patients with underlying lung disease, and in disseminated infections in immunosuppressed young patients with AIDS. A microbiological culture is needed to confirm the clinical suspicion, and genetic sequencing techniques are essential to correctly identify the species.

Candida galli as a cause of tinea unguium-molecular characterization of a rare clinical fungal entity.

We present the first clinical report of an infection caused by Candida galli, an anamorphic yeast species in the Yarrowia clade. C. galli has been described in the literature only four times, but never before it has been isolated from clinical samples.

[Antifungal susceptibility of clinical isolates of Scopulariopsis species].

Introduction: Scopulariopsis is a common soil saprophyte. In the last years the infections caused by Scopulariopsis species have increased, included superficial and invasive mycoses. This fungi has been reported resistant in vitro to some antifungal agents, although there is little information about this.

[Susceptibility to fluconazole of clinical interest yeasts: new breakpoints].

Introduction: Recently, Pfaller et al (Drug Resist Update 2010; 13:180-95), have proposed new breakpoints for determining the in vitro susceptibility to fluconazole of Candida albicans, C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis.

Evaluation of the Sensititre Yeast One microdilution method for susceptibility testing of Candida species to anidulafungin, caspofungin, and micafungin.

Introduction: Echinocandins represent a new antifungal group with potent activity against Candida species. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the utility of the Sensititre Yeast One method to determine the in vitro activity of anidulafungin, micafungin, and caspofungin against Candida species isolated from clinical specimens.

Methods: A total of 131 Candida strains were tested using Sensititre Yeast One colorimetric microdilution method.

[Infections due to rapidly growing mycobacteria].

Rapidly growing mycobacteria (RGM) are ubiquitous in nature and widely distributed in water, soil and animals. During the past three decades we have observed a notable increment of infections caused by RGM, both localized and disseminated, as well as nosocomial outbreaks of contaminated medical equipment. The microbiological diagnosis of RGM infections includes direct microscopic observation and culture.

Evaluation of INNO-LiPA mycobacteria v2 assay for identification of rapidly growing mycobacteria.

A total of 54 rapidly growing mycobacteria (RGM) isolated from patients attended in the two hospitals of Cádiz Bay (Spain) were selected during a seven-year-period (2000-2006) in order to evaluate the INNO-LiPA Mycobacteria v2 assay for mycobacterial identification, based on the reverse hybridization principle. The strains were cultured in Löwenstein-Jensen and Middlebrook 7H9 media and identified to the species level by sequencing of the 16S rRNA, PCR-restriction enzyme analysis of the hsp65 gene, conventional tests and INNO-LiPA Mycobacteria v2 assay. By the molecular methods we identified a total of 12 different species: 23 Mycobacterium fortuitum, 11 M.

[Antimicrobial susceptibility of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains from outpatient individuals].

Background: Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) has emerged worldwide as a cause of infections among patients without risk factors. This CA-MRSA is different from nosocomial strains in terms of epidemiology, microbiology and clinical manifestations. We report the epidemiologic characteristics and resistance to antimicrobial agents of CA-MRSA strains isolated in the last three years in the Microbiology Lab of Hospital General La Mancha-Centro (Alcázar de San Juan, Ciudad Real).

Otomycosis due to filamentous fungi.

Otomycosis is common throughout the world but barely studied in Spain. Our objective was to determine the microbiological and epidemiological characteristics of this pathology in Cadiz (Spain) between 2005 and 2010. Samples from patients with suspicion of otomycosis underwent a direct microscopic examination and culture on different media for fungi and bacteria.

Urethritis due to Corynebacterium glucuronolyticum.

We describe a case of urethritis in a young man caused by Corynebacterium glucuronolyticum. This bacterium is a synonym of Corynebacterium seminale, a known agent of non-gonococcal urethritis, that cannot be regarded as commensal flora in the urogenital region when is isolated in a symptomatic clinical context. Accuracy in diagnosis and correct treatment is important for avoiding probable complications, for example prostatitis.

[Tuberculous spondylodiscitis. Report of six patients].

Background: Tuberculous spondylodiscitis is relatively uncommon but represents the most common location of osseous tuberculosis.

Aim: To describe clinical features, imaging studies and laboratory tests to establish the diagnosis in a group of patients living in Cádiz (Spain).

Material And Methods: Retrospective analysis of medical records of patients with tuberculous spondylodiscitis diagnosed between 2000 and 2009.

[Rapid identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex from broth cultures by immunochromatographic assay].

Background: Recently, a simple and rapid commercial assay (BD MGIT TBc ID) has been developed using a monoclonal antibody anti-MPT64 for the differentiation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex from other mycobacteria by immunochromatography.

Methods: We evaluate in this work the clinical usefulness of the test for the identification of 51 strains of M. tuberculosis complex and 24 strains of other mycobacteria belonging to 14 different species, compared with the method of hybridization with DNA probes.

[Dermatophytoses due to anthropophilic fungi in Cadiz, Spain, between 1997 and 2008].

Background And Objectives: Cutaneous fungal infections are a major public health problem. The distribution of the dermatophytoses varies between countries and geographical areas. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence, epidemiology, etiology, and clinical course of the dermatophytoses caused by anthropophilic fungi in Cadiz, Spain, over the past 12 years.

[Fungal peritonitis in ambulatory continuous peritoneal dialysis: description of 10 cases].

Background: Fungal peritonitis is a rare but serious complication in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD).

Methods: During a ten-year period (1999-2008), from a total of 175 patients with chronic renal failure undergoing CAPD, we retrospectively studied 10 cases of fungal peritonitis analyzing the predisposing factors, clinical aspects, etiological agents and treatment. Diagnosis was based on elevated CAPD effluent count (>100/microl) and isolation of fungi on culture.

[Clinical and microbiological aspects of fungal peritonitis in peritoneal dialysis].

Peritonitis is one of the most serious complications of peritoneal dialysis. Pathogenic bacteria cause the majority of cases of peritonitis. Fungal infection is rare but it is associated with high morbidity, the inability to continue on the dialysis program and important mortality.

[Assessment of in vitro susceptibility to antimicrobials of rapidly growing mycobacteria by E-test].

Background: Rapidly growing mycobacteria (RGM) are considered opportunistic pathogens. An increasing number of post traumatic or surgical infections are caused by these microorganisms.

Aim: To determine the antimicrobial susceptibility of RGM using the E-test method.

[In vitro activities of posaconazole, fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole and voriconazole against Candida glabrata].

This study has been conducted to asses the in vitro activity of the novel triazole antifungal agent posaconazole against 123 clinically important isolates of yeasts. Susceptibility was tested using the Sensititre YeastOne microdilution commercial method. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined at the recommended endpoints and time intervals.