Invasive fungal infections – Page 3

Cracks in the Curriculum: The Hidden Deficiencies in Fungal Disease Coverage in Medical Books

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This study examined how well major medical textbooks cover fungal diseases, which kill millions of people annually. Researchers found that books focused on infectious diseases had much better information about fungal infections than general internal medicine textbooks. Most textbooks failed to adequately cover how to prevent fungal infections and diagnose them correctly, which could lead to delayed treatment and worse patient outcomes.

Prevalence of Candida and Other Yeasts in Vulvovaginal Infections during Pregnancy: A 10-Year Serbian Survey

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This study examined yeast infections in pregnant Serbian women over 10 years, finding that nearly half had positive tests. While Candida albicans was most common, many other yeast species were also identified, some of which are resistant to common antifungal medications. Using advanced laboratory techniques (MALDI-TOF MS), researchers found more accurate identification was possible, which is important since different yeasts require different treatments, especially during pregnancy when some medications can harm the baby.

Past, present and future of antifungals: Advancements in mechanisms of action and resistance

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Fungal infections are a growing global health threat, especially for people with weakened immune systems, causing millions of deaths annually. Currently available antifungal drugs are limited and increasingly face resistance, making them less effective over time. This special collection of research papers explores new approaches to treating fungal infections, including novel drugs, combination therapies, and alternative treatments to overcome resistance. Scientists and doctors hope these advances will help save more lives by providing better options for treating serious fungal diseases.

Interaction with amoeba drives virulence-associated phenotypes in the Candida haemulonii complex

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Researchers discovered that when fungal pathogens called Candida haemulonii are exposed to soil amoebae in laboratory conditions, they develop enhanced disease-causing abilities. These fungi undergo multiple changes including forming stronger protective biofilms, producing more virulence factors, and becoming harder to kill by immune defenses. This suggests that fungal pathogens might develop some of their dangerous traits not from infecting humans, but from surviving in soil environments where they must evade predatory organisms like amoebae.

Clinical aspects and recent advances in fungal diseases impacting human health

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Fungal infections affect over a billion people worldwide and are becoming harder to treat due to growing resistance to antifungal medications. The review discusses major challenges in detecting and treating these infections, including difficulty in diagnosis and limited awareness among healthcare providers. New antifungal drugs are being developed and approved to address these challenges, but a comprehensive approach involving better awareness, improved testing, and responsible medication use is needed.

Antifungal Policy and Practice Across Five Countries: A Qualitative Review

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This study examined how five countries (Netherlands, Italy, South Korea, China, and India) manage invasive fungal infections through national policies. Researchers found that while all countries have some policies in place, there are significant gaps in diagnosis access, treatment availability, and healthcare professional training. The findings highlight the urgent need for stronger, more comprehensive policies to help patients suffering from serious fungal infections.

Time- and temperature-dependent Pentraxin 3 stability in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples

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Pentraxin 3 is a protein marker that helps doctors detect serious fungal infections. This study tested how well this marker stays stable in blood and lung fluid samples when stored at different temperatures over long periods. The results show that samples should be kept frozen at −20°C or −80°C to preserve the marker, but samples left at room temperature or warmer are quickly damaged and unreliable for testing.

Analysis of Susceptibility and Drug Resistance of Antifungal Agents in Aspergillosis and Mucormycosis Patients: A Systematic Review

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This comprehensive study analyzed how well five major antifungal drugs work against common disease-causing fungi like Aspergillus and Mucorales. Researchers reviewed 96 studies examining over 16,000 fungal samples to understand resistance patterns. The findings show that different fungi respond better to different drugs—for example, Aspergillus flavus responds well to voriconazole, while amphotericin B works best against other Aspergillus species. This information helps doctors choose the most effective treatments for fungal infections in vulnerable patients.

Pathogenic mucorales: Deciphering their cell wall polysaccharidome and immunostimulatory potential

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Mucormycosis is a dangerous fungal infection that kills many immunocompromised patients. Researchers analyzed the outer layer (cell wall) of three common disease-causing fungi and discovered that their surfaces contain sugar-like molecules that trigger strong inflammatory responses from the immune system. This excessive inflammation may actually contribute to the disease’s severity, suggesting that controlling inflammation alongside antifungal treatment might improve patient outcomes.

Pyrvinium Pamoate Synergizes with Azoles in vitro and in vivo to Exert Antifungal Efficacy Against Candida auris and Other Candida Species

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Researchers tested a combination of an old antiparasitic drug called pyrvinium pamoate with common antifungal medications called azoles against dangerous drug-resistant fungal infections. While pyrvinium pamoate alone was not very effective, when combined with azoles it significantly improved the treatment of Candida auris infections. Tests in insect larvae showed that the combination improved survival rates better than using azoles alone, suggesting a promising new treatment approach for serious fungal infections.

Disease: Invasive fungal infections