Global guideline for the diagnosis and management of cryptococcosis: an initiative of the ECMM and ISHAM in cooperation with the ASM.

Cryptococcosis is a major worldwide disseminated invasive fungal infection. Cryptococcosis, particularly in its most lethal manifestation of cryptococcal meningitis, accounts for substantial mortality and morbidity. The breadth of the clinical cryptococcosis syndromes, the different patient types at-risk and affected, and the vastly disparate resource settings where clinicians practice pose a complex array of challenges.

Invasive Candidiasis in Adult Patients with COVID-19: Results of a Multicenter Study in St. Petersburg, Russia.

We studied the risk factors, etiology, clinical manifestations, and treatment outcomes of COVID-19-associated invasive candidiasis (COVID-IC) in adult patients admitted to six medical facilities in St. Petersburg. (November 2020-December 2022).

Pharmacokinetic and Exposure Response Analysis of the Double-Blind Randomized Study of Posaconazole and Voriconazole for Treatment of Invasive Aspergillosis.

Background And Objective: A double-blind phase 3 study was conducted to compare posaconazole 300 mg intravenously (IV)/300 mg orally once daily (twice daily day 1) with voriconazole 4 mg/kg IV twice daily/200 mg orally twice daily (6 mg/kg day 1) for treatment of invasive aspergillosis. This analysis was conducted to summarize the pharmacokinetics and exposure-response relationships of posaconazole and voriconazole using plasma trough concentration (C) as a surrogate for exposure from the double-blind phase 3 study.

Methods: The pharmacokinetic evaluable population included all intention-to-treat (ITT) participants with at least one plasma concentration during the treatment period.

Predictors for Prolonged Hospital Stay Solely to Complete Intravenous Antifungal Treatment in Patients with Candidemia: Results from the ECMM Candida III Multinational European Observational Cohort Study.

Background: To date, azoles represent the only viable option for oral treatment of invasive Candida infections, while rates of azole resistance among non-albicans Candida spp. continue to increase. The objective of this sub-analysis of the European multicenter observational cohort study Candida III was to describe demographical and clinical characteristics of the cohort requiring prolonged hospitalization solely to complete intravenous (iv) antifungal treatment (AF Tx).

Guideline adherence and survival of patients with candidaemia in Europe: results from the ECMM Candida III multinational European observational cohort study.

Background: The European Confederation of Medical Mycology (ECMM) collected data on epidemiology, risk factors, treatment, and outcomes of patients with culture-proven candidaemia across Europe to assess how adherence to guideline recommendations is associated with outcomes.

Methods: In this observational cohort study, 64 participating hospitals located in 20 European countries, with the number of eligible hospitals per country determined by population size, included the first ten consecutive adults with culture-proven candidaemia after July 1, 2018, and entered data into the ECMM Candida Registry (FungiScope CandiReg). We assessed ECMM Quality of Clinical Candidaemia Management (EQUAL Candida) scores reflecting adherence to recommendations of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases and the Infectious Diseases Society of America guidelines.

COVID-19-associated mucormycosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 958 cases.

Background: Mucormycosis, a rare fungal infection, has shown an increase in the number of reported cases during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objectives: To provide a comprehensive insight into the characteristics of COVID-19-associated mucormycosis, through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods Of Data Synthesis: Demographic information and clinical features were documented for each patient.

Clinical features and prognostic factors of Magnusiomyces (Saprochaete) infections in haematology. A multicentre study of SEIFEM/Fungiscope.

Background: Our multicentre study aims to identify baseline factors and provide guidance for therapeutic decisions regarding Magnusiomyces-associated infections, an emerging threat in patients with haematological malignancies.

Methods: HM patients with proven (Magnusiomyces capitatus) M. capitatus or (Magnusiomyces clavatus) M.

Invasive Trichoderma spp. infections: clinical presentation and outcome of cases from the literature and the FungiScope® registry.

Background: Trichoderma spp. are filamentous fungi causing invasive fungal diseases in patients with haematological malignancies and in peritoneal dialysis patients.

Objectives: To analyse clinical presentation, predisposing factors, treatment and outcome of Trichoderma infections.

COVID-19 in adult acute myeloid leukemia patients: a long-term follow-up study from the European Hematology Association survey (EPICOVIDEHA).

Patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are at high risk of dying from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The optimal management of AML patients with COVID-19 has not been established. Our multicenter study included 388 adult AML patients diagnosed with COVID-19 between February 2020 and October 2021.

Prognostic Impact of Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid Galactomannan and Aspergillus Culture Results on Survival in COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit Patients: a Analysis from the European Confederation of Medical Mycology (ECMM) COVID-19-Associated Pulmonary Aspergillosis Study.

Critically ill patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may develop COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA), which impacts their chances of survival. Whether positive bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) mycological tests can be used as a survival proxy remains unknown. We conducted a analysis of a previous multicenter, multinational observational study with the aim of assessing the differential prognostic impact of BALF mycological tests, namely, positive (optical density index of ≥1.

The emergence of COVID-19 associated mucormycosis: a review of cases from 18 countries.

Reports of COVID-19-associated mucormycosis have been increasing in frequency since early 2021, particularly among patients with uncontrolled diabetes. Patients with diabetes and hyperglycaemia often have an inflammatory state that could be potentiated by the activation of antiviral immunity to SARS-CoV2, which might favour secondary infections. In this Review, we analysed 80 published and unpublished cases of COVID-19-associated mucormycosis.

COVID-19-Associated Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Russia.

We studied the risk factors, etiology, clinical features and the effectiveness of therapy of COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) in adult patients. In this retrospective study, we included 45 patients with proven (7%) and probable (93%) CAPA. The ECMM/ISHAM, 2020 criteria were used to diagnose CAPA.

COVID-19 and CAR T cells: a report on current challenges and future directions from the EPICOVIDEHA survey by EHA-IDWP.

The EHA-IDWP developed an observational registry collecting data on COVID-19 infection in patients who received CAR T-cell therapy. Prevalence of COVID-19 was 4.8%, and overall mortality was 50%, highlighting the need for prevention of infection in these patients.

COVID-19 in vaccinated adult patients with hematological malignancies: preliminary results from EPICOVIDEHA.

In a Plenary Paper, Mittelman and colleagues assess the relative clinical efficacy of mRNA vaccination on COVID-19 disease incidence and outcomes in patients with hematologic malignancies compared with healthy matched controls. This population-based study from Israel links prior observations of poor serologic responses to vaccination to higher risk for breakthrough infection, hospitalization, and death in patients with blood cancer, especially those on active antineoplastic therapy. In an accompanying Letter to , Pagano et al provide supportive data using a multination survey approach to capture outcomes for COVID-19 in vaccinated patients with hematologic neoplasms.

COVID-19 infection in adult patients with hematological malignancies: a European Hematology Association Survey (EPICOVIDEHA).

Background: Patients with hematological malignancies (HM) are at high risk of mortality from SARS-CoV-2 disease 2019 (COVID-19). A better understanding of risk factors for adverse outcomes may improve clinical management in these patients. We therefore studied baseline characteristics of HM patients developing COVID-19 and analyzed predictors of mortality.

Global guideline for the diagnosis and management of the endemic mycoses: an initiative of the European Confederation of Medical Mycology in cooperation with the International Society for Human and Animal Mycology.

The global burden of the endemic mycoses (blastomycosis, coccidioidomycosis, emergomycosis, histoplasmosis, paracoccidioidomycosis, sporotrichosis, and talaromycosis) continues to rise yearly and these infectious diseases remain a leading cause of patient morbidity and mortality worldwide. Management of the associated pathogens requires a thorough understanding of the epidemiology, risk factors, diagnostic methods and performance characteristics in different patient populations, and treatment options unique to each infection. Guidance on the management of these infections has the potential to improve prognosis.

Posaconazole versus voriconazole for primary treatment of invasive aspergillosis: a phase 3, randomised, controlled, non-inferiority trial.

Background: Voriconazole has been recommended as primary treatment for patients with invasive aspergillosis. Intravenous and tablet formulations of posaconazole that have improved systemic absorption could be an effective alternative to voriconazole. We aimed to assess non-inferiority of posaconazole to voriconazole for the primary treatment of invasive aspergillosis.

Defining and managing COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis: the 2020 ECMM/ISHAM consensus criteria for research and clinical guidance.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 causes direct damage to the airway epithelium, enabling aspergillus invasion. Reports of COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis have raised concerns about it worsening the disease course of COVID-19 and increasing mortality. Additionally, the first cases of COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis caused by azole-resistant aspergillus have been reported.

Characterization and outcome of invasive infections due to Paecilomyces variotii: analysis of patients from the FungiScope® registry and literature reports.

Objectives: To provide a basis for clinical management decisions in Paecilomyces variotii infection.

Methods: Unpublished cases of invasive P. variotii infection from the FungiScope® registry and all cases reported in the literature were analysed.

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.

Diagnostic markers of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis in patients with severe asthma.

Introduction: Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is a lung disease in patients with asthma or cystic fibrosis (CF) caused by chronic allergic inflammation to Aspergillus spp. antigens. The role of different immunological mediators in the formation of chronic allergic inflammation in patients with ABPA is not sufficiently explored.

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).