candidemia – Page 5

Enhancing antifungal stewardship: The educational and healthcare benefits of involving pharmacy students in audits

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This study involved pharmacy students in reviewing fluconazole prescriptions at two Sydney hospitals to improve antifungal medication use. The researchers found that many fluconazole prescriptions were not being used appropriately, and some patients had dangerous drug interactions. The pharmacy students gained valuable real-world experience while helping the hospitals improve their antifungal stewardship practices.

Effects of Short-Chain Fatty Acid Combinations Relevant to the Healthy and Dysbiotic Gut upon Candida albicans

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Short-chain fatty acids produced by healthy gut bacteria appear to slow the growth and reduce the invasive characteristics of Candida albicans, a fungus that normally lives harmlessly in the gut but can cause infections when the microbiota is disrupted by antibiotics. This study tested whether healthy gut SCFA levels inhibit Candida more effectively than dysbiotic levels and found that the healthy SCFA mix was somewhat more effective at preventing fungal hyphal formation, which is important for tissue invasion. However, different Candida strains responded differently to the SCFAs, suggesting that individual variation affects how protective these bacterial metabolites can be.

Assessing Diagnostic Capabilities and Treatment Accessibility for Invasive Fungal Infections in the Balkan Region

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Researchers surveyed medical centers across 12 Balkan countries to understand how well-equipped they are to diagnose and treat serious fungal infections. They found that while most centers have basic laboratory tools like microscopes and cultures, advanced molecular tests for identifying fungal species are less common. Antifungal medications like triazoles are widely available, but other important treatment options are harder to find in the region.

Candida albicans Goliath cells pioneer biofilm formation

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Researchers discovered that Candida albicans produces giant-sized cells called Goliath cells when zinc is scarce. These oversized cells are extremely sticky and can cling to plastic surfaces like catheters even when exposed to blood flow. Once attached, they form thicker, more resilient biofilms that can seed infections into the bloodstream, making Goliath cells particularly dangerous in hospital settings where catheters are commonly used.

China’s innovative national plan to combat fungal diseases and antifungal resistance

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China has launched an ambitious national program to combat fungal diseases through a network of 868 hospitals across the country. Studies found that fungal infections are more common than previously thought, with concerning rates of drug resistance. The country is implementing surveillance systems, training healthcare workers, and carefully managing antifungal drug use to prevent further resistance development while improving patient outcomes.

Reevaluating the Value of (1,3)-β-D-Glucan for the Diagnosis of Intra-Abdominal Candidiasis in Critically Ill Patients: Current Evidence and Future Directions

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This review examines how a fungal biomarker called beta-D-glucan (BDG) can help doctors diagnose yeast infections in the abdomens of critically ill patients. While BDG tests in the blood are available, they give many false positives. Testing BDG directly in fluid from the abdomen appears more accurate, especially when combined with blood tests. However, more research is needed before hospitals widely adopt this approach in daily practice.

Should all hospitalised patients colonised with Candida auris be considered for isolation?

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Candida auris is a dangerous yeast found in hospitals that can spread quickly between patients and is very difficult to treat. Healthcare experts in the Netherlands have decided that all hospital patients carrying this fungus should be isolated in single rooms, even if their strain is susceptible to antifungal drugs, because the infection can develop resistance quickly and cause serious illness. This strict isolation approach helps prevent outbreaks and protects vulnerable patients from developing life-threatening blood infections.

Candidemia due to Candida lambica in a neutropenic oncology patient: A rare case report

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A 56-year-old cancer patient developed a serious bloodstream infection caused by a rare yeast called Candida lambica despite taking antifungal medications. Doctors identified the infection using genetic sequencing and found that the organism was sensitive to a different antifungal drug called voriconazole. After switching medications and removing the patient’s central line, the infection cleared up. This case demonstrates the importance of accurately identifying fungal infections and testing which medications work best against them.

Investigating the Increasing Azole Resistance in Candida Infections Among Critically Ill Patients: Experience From a Tertiary-Level Setup in North India

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This study tracked the increase in drug-resistant yeast infections in hospitalized patients in India from 2023 to 2025. The researchers found that common antifungal medications like fluconazole are becoming less effective, with resistance rates nearly doubling over the study period. The good news is that newer antifungal drugs called echinocandins remained highly effective. The findings highlight the need for better infection control measures and more careful use of antifungal medications.

ESCMID-EFISG Survey on Diagnostic and Therapeutic Capacity for Invasive Fungal Infections in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg: A Focus on High Azole Resistance

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This survey examined how well hospitals in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg can diagnose and treat serious fungal infections, especially in patients whose immune systems are weakened. The researchers found that while most hospitals have good access to testing and antifungal medications, some important tests are still missing, and many hospitals send samples to other facilities for testing, which can delay treatment. Since this region has unusually high rates of fungal infections that resist common antifungal drugs, improving access to advanced diagnostic tests is crucial for patient survival.

Disease: candidemia