Compilation of regulations and procedures for monitoring filamentous fungi in hospital environments.

Air and surfaces in the hospital environment are a potential source of exposure to filamentous fungi (FF) that could cause invasive fungal diseases (IFD) in severely immunocompromised patients. The prevalent FF in IFD are species from the genera Aspergillus, Fusarium, Scedosporium, and those within the order Mucorales. We have compiled regulations and described the procedures used in the clinical mycology laboratory to assess the presence of FF in areas at risk for the development of IFD.

Evaluation of the MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry technique for the identification of dermatophytes: Use of an extended database.

Background: Identification of dermatophytes is usually performed through morphological analyses. However, it may be hindered due to the discovery of new species and complexes and, with some isolates, by the absence of fructification. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) seems to be an option for improving identification.

Sporotrichosis in Argentina: clinical and epidemiological analysis.

Introduction: Sporotrichosis is an implantation mycosis caused by Sporothrix spp. It is distributed worldwide and can be found in vegetation and soil. The most frequent route of infection is by trauma with elements contaminated with fungal propagules.

COVID-19 associated with disseminated histoplasmosis in a kidney transplant patient.

We report a case of disseminated histoplasmosis and COVID-19 infection in a renal transplant recipient in Argentina. The patient exhibited respiratory symptoms, and a chest computed tomography scan (CT) showed multiple bilateral centrilobular opacities with a tree-in-bud pattern in both lobes. The patient was initially treated as having bacterial community-acquired pneumonia, and then tuberculosis.

[Usefulness of the Sensititre YeastOne® panel to detect Candida species resistant to antifungal drugs].

We evaluated the interlaboratory agreement, the essential agreement, and the categorical agreement between the Sensititre YeastOne panel and the reference methods M27 4 Edition of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI), and the EDef 7.3.1 of the European Committee on Antifungal Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST).

[Trichophyton benhamiae, an emergent zoonotic pathogen in Argentina associated with Guinea pigs: Description of 7cases in Buenos Aires].

Trichophyton benhamiae is a zoonotic dermatophyte that can cause tinea corporis, tinea faciei and tinea capitis, producing inflammatory lesions, especially in children. In this publication, we describe 7clinical cases of pediatric patients that occurred in our institution between July 2019 and January 2020. All patients underwent a conventional mycological study.

spp. from Clinical Setting in Argentina, with the Proposal of the New Pathogenic Species .

Species of the genus (family Microascaceae, phylum Ascomycota) are responsible for a wide range of opportunistic human infections, and have a low susceptibility to most antifungal drugs. It is well known that the pattern of species distribution varies according to geographic region. To assess the diversity of species in Argentina involved in human infections, we carried out a retrospective study reviewing 49 strains from clinical samples sent for diagnosis to the National Clinical Mycology Reference Laboratory between 1985 and 2019.

Onychodystrophy as the only sign of congenital candidiasis.

Congenital candidiasis infection often presents as a skin rash with variable involvement of nails and mucous membranes. Isolated nail involvement is rare, may present late, and can often be managed with topical antifungal medication. We report a case of congenital candidiasis limited to the fingernails that resolved completely within 3 months with topical treatment.

[Identification of Candida yeasts: Conventional methods and MALDI-TOF MS].

Background: Invasive fungal infections are increasing, and Candida yeasts are the main cause. Species other than Candida albicans are becoming more frequent, and some of them may have variable patterns of susceptibility to antifungal agents, making it important to identify them correctly. Conventional identification methods used by most laboratories may present with drawbacks.

Development and validation of an extended database for yeast identification by MALDI-TOF MS in Argentina.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has revolutionized the identification of microorganisms in clinical laboratories because it is rapid, relatively simple to use, accurate, and can be used for a wide number of microorganisms. Several studies have demonstrated the utility of this technique in the identification of yeasts; however, its performance is usually improved by the extension of the database. Here we developed an in-house database of 143 strains belonging to 42 yeast species in the MALDI Biotyper platform, and we validated the extended database with 388 regional strains and 15 reference strains belonging to 55 yeast species.

[MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry: Evaluation of the preanalytical phase for identification of molds].

In order to optimize the identification of molds with MALDI-TOF MS, three protein extraction-methodologies were evaluated against 44 isolates: water extraction (WE), zirconium extraction (ZE) and the provider's recommended method (PRM). Two data bases were compared, Bruker (BK) and Bruker+National Institutes of Health. Considering both databases, results were respectively as follows: correct identification (CI) at gender level, 10 and 16 by WE; 27 and 32 by ZE and 18 and 23 by PRM; CI at species level, 5 and 7 by WE; 17 and 20 by ZE and 11 and 14 by PRM; non-reliable identification, 18 and 12 by WE; 9 and 4 by ZE and by PRM.

Candida glabrata species complex prevalence and antifungal susceptibility testing in a culture collection: First description of Candida nivariensis in Argentina.

The presence of the cryptic species belonging to the Candida glabrata complex has not been studied in Argentina. We analyzed a collection of 117 clinical isolates of C. glabrata complex belonging to a National Culture Collection of Instituto Nacional de Microbiología "Dr.

[Yeast urinary tract infections. Multicentre study in 14 hospitals belonging to the Buenos Aires City Mycology Network].

Background: Urinary tract infections are a frequent ailment in patients in intensive care units. Candida and other yeasts cause 5-12% of these infections. The value of the finding of any yeast is controversial, and there is no consensus about which parameters are adequate for differentiating urinary infections from colonization or contamination.

First isolate of KPC-2-producing Klebsiella pneumonaie sequence type 23 from the Americas.

KPC-2-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates mainly correspond to clonal complex 258 (CC258); however, we describe KPC-2-producing K. pneumoniae isolates belonging to invasive sequence type 23 (ST23). KPC-2 has scarcely been reported to occur in ST23, and this report describes the first isolation of this pathogen in the Americas.

[Evaluation of the VITEK 2 system (AST-YSO1 cards) for antifungal susceptibility testing against different Candida species].

The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the results of antifungal susceptibility for various Candida species using the Vitek 2 semi-automated system (AST-YSO1 cards, bioMérieux), and to compare them with those obtained by the CLSI (Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute) broth microdilution reference method (Document M27-A3,2008). The essential agreement (EA) was > 90%, except for Candida glabrata against voriconazole (VCZ); and for Candida krusei against fluconazole (FCZ). The overall categorical agreement (CA) was > 90% when FCZ was evaluated and 89.

[Evaluation of Vitek 2 for the identification of Candida yeasts].

The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the performance of Vitek 2 YST cards (bioMérieux, Inc., Hazelwood, MO, USA) for the identification of yeasts of the genus Candida. A total of 168 isolates were analyzed and the results were compared to those of the API 20 C AUX (24%) o API ID 32 C (76%) kits (bioMérieux, Marcy L'Etoile, France).

[Onychomycosis: multicentre epidemiological, clinical and mycological study].

Background: Onychomycosis accounts for up to 50% of all nail disorders. They can be caused by: yeasts, dermatophytes and non-dermatophyte moulds.

Objectives And Methods: A multicentre study designed to determine the prevalence, mycological test results, aetiological agents, and clinical presentation of onychomycosis was carried out.

[Evaluation of three methods for in vitro detection of antifungal susceptibility of Candida species].

Reference methods E.Def 7.1 and M27-A3 detect in vitro resistance; however, they are expensive and very laborious.