The importance of appropriate processing and direct microscopic examination for the timely diagnosis and management of invasive infections caused by filamentous fungi.

The gold standard for diagnosis of invasive fungal infections caused by filamentous fungi remains the visualization of fungal elements in fluids, and biopsy/tissue collected from a normally sterile body site. Parallel recovery of viable fungus from the sample subsequently permits antifungal susceptibility testing of the individual isolate. Central to both processes is the appropriate processing of tissue specimens to avoid damaging fungal elements and optimize viable organism recovery.

Consulting patients in setting priorities in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.) research: findings from a national on-line survey.

Unlabelled: Myalgic encephalitis (M.E.) is a common condition, the cause of which is not known and there are no treatments available.