Fusarium infections: Epidemiological aspects over 10 years in a university hospital in France.

Background: Fusarium is an environmental mold that causes deep or superficial mycosis in immunocompromised or immunocompetent patients respectively.

Methods: This epidemiological study evaluated the frequency of Fusarium infections in our university hospital center in France over a decade from 2007 to 2016 and its representativeness in the main clinical infections.

Results: A total of 715 Fusarium sp.

Molecular identification of Fusarium species complexes: Which gene and which database to choose in clinical practice?

Identification of Fusarium at the level of the species complex is difficult with phenotypic methods, so it is necessary to use molecular sequencing methods. This study presents, for 33 isolates distributed among the four major species complexes, the performance of five identification schemes involving ITS (internal transcribed spacer), EF1α (translation elongation factor 1 alpha), RPB1 (largest subunit of RNA polymerase) and RPB2 (second largest subunit of RNA polymerase) genes and two databases: GenBank and Fusarium MLST (MultiLocus Sequence Typing). In our practice, the identification of the fungus from a culture is performed with EF1α and from a primary sample with ITS, using in both cases the specific database Fusarium MLST.

Performance of Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry for Identifying Clinical Malassezia Isolates.

The genus Malassezia comprises commensal yeasts on human skin. These yeasts are involved in superficial infections but are also isolated in deeper infections, such as fungemia, particularly in certain at-risk patients, such as neonates or patients with parenteral nutrition catheters. Very little is known about Malassezia epidemiology and virulence.

Optimising the diagnostic strategy for onychomycosis from sample collection to FUNGAL identification evaluation of a diagnostic kit for real-time PCR.

Onychomycosis is a common nail disorder mainly due to dermatophytes for which the conventional diagnosis requires direct microscopic observation and culture of a biological sample. Nevertheless, antifungal treatments are commonly prescribed without a mycological examination having been performed, partly because of the slow growth of dermatophytes. Therefore, molecular biology has been applied to this pathology, to support a quick and accurate distinction between onychomycosis and other nail damage.

A MALDI-TOF MS procedure for clinical dermatophyte species identification in the routine laboratory.

The conventional identification of dermatophytes requires a long turnaround time and highly skilled mycologists. We have recently developed a tandardized matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) assay to routinely identify molds of potential clinical significance. This study objective was to determine if this same assay could also be employed to identify clinical dermatophytes in the routine laboratory setting.

Fatal Histoplasma capsulatum mitral endocarditis in a French patient treated for rheumatoid arthritis.

Histoplasmosis is an infectious disease caused by the inhalation of Histoplasma capsulatum spores, a fungus encountered in many diverse areas around the world. Although this infection is often asymptomatic, it may become dramatic in immunocompromised patients. In November 2005, an endocarditis due to Histoplasma capsulatum was diagnosed in a French woman treated for rheumatoid arthritis and who had traveled to South America 2 years earlier.

Outbreak of Tinea capitis and corporis in a primary school in Antananarivo, Madagascar.

Introduction: Tinea capitis is common among schoolchildren in developing countries but underreported in Madagascar. We report the occurrence of an outbreak of gray patch tinea capitis due to Microsporum langeronii in a public primary school of Antananarivo, the capital city of Madagascar.

Methodology: Forty-two children were included, 27 (64%) of them presenting with tinea capitis and 32 (76%) with Tinea corporis.

Prevalence analysis of fungi in chronic lower extremity ulcers .

Unlabelled: Background. Lower extremity ulcers are a major cause of morbidity in elderly patients and can be colonized by many different microorganisms, including fungi. The purpose of this prospective study was to determine the prevalence of fungal colonization and/or infection at the ulcer site and the surrounding skin.

Development of a new MLST scheme for differentiation of Fusarium solani Species Complex (FSSC) isolates.

Fungi belonging to the Fusarium solani Species Complex (FSSC) are well known plant pathogens. In addition to being the causative agent of some superficial infections, FSSC has recently emerged as a group of common opportunistic moulds, mainly in patients with haematological malignancies. Molecular typing methods are essential in order to better understand the epidemiology of such opportunistic agents with the final goal of preventing contamination.