Anti-Therapeutic Action: micafungin

Masquerading Yeast: A Case Report of Lomentospora prolificans Fungemia With a Diagnostic Twist

mycolabadmin

This case describes a patient with blood cancer who developed a rare and deadly mold infection called Lomentospora prolificans while receiving cancer treatment. The infection was difficult to diagnose initially because the fungal structures looked similar to yeast under the microscope, and a molecular test gave a false positive result for a different fungus. Unfortunately, the infection was resistant to all available antifungal medications and the patient died.

Read More »

Mucor germinans, a novel dimorphic species resembling Paracoccidioides in a clinical sample: questions on ecological strategy

mycolabadmin

Researchers discovered a new fungus called Mucor germinans that infected a cancer patient’s lungs and appeared as yeast cells rather than the typical thread-like fungal structures. This is unusual because Mucor infections normally show filamentous hyphae, and the yeast-like appearance made it look like a different fungus, potentially delaying correct diagnosis and treatment. The study shows that this fungus can change forms depending on temperature and other conditions, and identifying it requires checking for multiple nuclei in the cells to distinguish it from other similar-looking yeasts.

Read More »

Simplicillium sinense sp. nov., a novel potential pathogen of tinea faciei

mycolabadmin

Researchers identified a new fungal species called Simplicillium sinense that caused a facial skin infection (tinea faciei) in a 46-year-old man with diabetes. The fungus was resistant to most common antifungal medications but responded well to terbinafine treatment. This is the first reported case of a Simplicillium infection causing facial ringworm, expanding our understanding of rare fungal pathogens.

Read More »

Mucor germinans, a novel dimorphic species resembling Paracoccidioides in a clinical sample: questions on ecological strategy

mycolabadmin

Researchers identified a new fungal species called Mucor germinans from a patient with Burkitt lymphoma that can switch between filamentous and yeast-like forms. This is unusual because Mucor species are typically identified by their thread-like filaments, not budding yeast cells. The yeast form appeared at body temperature and resembled a different fungus called Paracoccidioides, potentially causing misdiagnosis. The discovery emphasizes the importance of recognizing that some Mucor infections may present with yeast-like cells and highlights the need for rapid, accurate identification to guide appropriate antifungal treatment.

Read More »
Scroll to Top