Use of Mueller-Hinton broth and agar in the germ tube test.

Candida albicans is often isolated from clinical samples, thus its presumptive differentiation from other species of the same genus can be based on its ability to form the germ tube in human serum. Nevertheless, there are two other species that share this characteristic: C. dubliniensis and C.

Cutaneous infection by Diaporthe phaseolorum in Brazil.

Diaporthe phaseolorum is a frequent fungal parasite of plants, rarely involved in human diseases. We describe a case of cutaneous infection caused by this fungus diagnosed by morphology and molecular biology, on the hands and on a foot of a renal transplanted Brazilian farmer. The infection was resolved with oral itraconazole.

Invasive candidosis: contrasting the perceptions of infectious disease physicians and intensive care physicians.

Introduction: We analyze how infectious disease physicians perceive and manage invasive candidosis in Brazil, in comparison to intensive care unit specialists.

Methods: A 38-question survey was administered to 56 participants. Questions involved clinicians’ perceptions of the epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment and prophylaxis of invasive candidosis.

Novel triazole antifungal drugs: focus on isavuconazole, ravuconazole and albaconazole.

Azoles are important compounds for the treatment of fungal infections. This review focuses on three azoles: isavuconazole, ravuconazole and albaconazole (Stiefel). These drugs exhibit a broad spectrum of activity in vitro, including activity against several fungal isolates that are resistant to other azoles.

Candida and the paediatric lung.

Although systemic candidosis is common in hospitalised children, Candida involvement of lung parenchyma is rare and usually perceived only at autopsy. The purpose of this article was to review the evidence regarding lung involvement in Candida infections, with special attention to paediatric patients. Primary Candida pneumonia is rare and usually associated with aspiration of oropharyngeal contents.

Cryptococcosis in children.

Cryptococcosis is a systemic-opportunistic mycosis caused by two species of the encapsulated yeast-like organism, Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii, which cause infection in immunocompromised individuals and in immunologically normal hosts, respectively. Most susceptible to infection are patients with T-cell deficiencies.

Differences in pathogenicity and clinical syndromes due to Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus.

Most of the information available about Aspergillus infections has originated from the study of A. fumigatus, the most frequent species in the genus. This review aims to compare the pathogenicity and clinical aspects of Aspergillosis caused by A.

The incidence of cytomegalovirus infection in lung transplant recipients under universal prophylaxis with intravenous ganciclovir.

The best strategy for control of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in lung transplant patients is still not determined. The aim of this study was to document the incidence of CMV infection in a cohort of lung transplant recipients under universal prophylaxis with intravenous ganciclovir. All patients received immunosuppressive regimens consisting of cyclosporine, azathioprine, and prednisone.

Disseminated nocardiosis due to Nocardia farcinica: diagnosis by thyroid abscess culture.

A previously healthy 75-year-old white male dentist presented with a 6-month history of low-back pain treated with chronic steroid therapy had a Nocardia farcinica infection diagnosed by aspirate of thyroid abscess and six blood cultures. Despite the treatment with parenteral combination of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, the patient failed to respond and died after two days of therapy. Autopsy revealed disseminated nocardiosis, involving lungs with pleural purulent exudate in both sides, heart, thyroid, kidneys, brain, bones, and lumbosacral soft tissue with destruction of L2-L4.

A 9-year study comparing risk factors and the outcome of paediatric and adults with nosocomial candidaemia.

Although there are numerous studies of candidaemia in adults, data on paediatrics are still limited. The aim of this study was to compare risk factors, aetiology, therapy, and the outcome of nosocomial candidaemia among paediatric and adult patients in a large Brazilian tertiary hospital (1995-2003). During this period, 78 paediatrics and 113 adults were studied.

Risk factors and outcome for nosocomial breakthrough candidaemia.

Objectives: To describe all cases of nosocomial candidaemia that occurred in patients in use of anti-fungals.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study (1995-2003). Breakthrough candidaemia was defined as the occurrence of candidaemia in a patient receiving at least 3 days of systemic anti-fungal therapy.

A comparative study of risk factors and outcome among outpatient-acquired and nosocomial candidaemia.

Candidaemia is perceived as a nosocomial infection. The aim of this study was to describe all cases of candidaemia that occurred in the outpatient setting, and to compare risk factors and outcome among patients with outpatient-acquired and nosocomial candidaemia. During 1995 and 2003, 210 patients developed candidaemia at our institution, and 9.

Cryptococcemia. An analysis of 28 cases with emphasis on the clinical outcome and its etiologic agent.

Clinical protocols of 28 cases of cryptococcemia studied between April 1995 and November 2002 were reviewed. The varieties of Cryptococcus neorformans, the underlying disease, and the severity and outcome of the disease were emphasized. Most patients were immunossupressed (89.