Disease: Sepsis

Urosepsis From Nephrolithiasis Caused by Candida glabrata: A Rare Etiology of Urinary Sepsis in an Immunocompetent Patient

A 41-year-old man with kidney stones developed a serious bloodstream infection caused by Candida glabrata, a type of yeast fungus that rarely infects healthy people. Although he initially received antibiotics, his condition worsened until doctors identified the fungal infection through blood tests. After placing a drainage tube in his kidney and treating him with an antifungal medication called micafungin, he recovered well. This case highlights the importance of considering fungal infections when standard antibiotics fail to treat kidney stone-related infections.

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A case report of Saksenaea vasiformis mucormycosis infection of a lower segment caesarean section wound

A young woman developed a rare fungal infection (mucormycosis) in her caesarean section wound seven days after surgery. Despite initial antibiotic treatment, she required multiple surgical debridement procedures combined with antifungal medications to eliminate the infection. The surgical team successfully reconstructed her abdominal wall using specialized mesh and skin grafting techniques, resulting in complete healing.

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A Pragmatic Strategy for Improving Diagnosis of Invasive Candidiasis in UK and Ireland ICUs

Diagnosing invasive candidiasis (a serious fungal infection in ICU patients) is challenging because current blood culture tests are slow and insensitive. This paper presents a practical five-step diagnostic guide for UK and Ireland hospitals that combines risk assessment, biomarker tests, and rapid identification methods to diagnose the infection faster and more accurately. Using this strategy helps doctors avoid unnecessary antifungal drugs while ensuring seriously ill patients receive appropriate treatment quickly, ultimately improving survival rates.

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

Researchers tested how stable Pentraxin 3, a protein marker for fungal infections, remains when stored under different conditions. They found that samples stored in freezers at −20°C or −80°C kept stable for months, making Pentraxin 3 a reliable marker for diagnosing serious fungal infections. However, samples stored at warm temperatures degraded quickly, so proper cold storage is essential for accurate test results.

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Recent Discoveries on Marine Organism Immunomodulatory Activities

Scientists are discovering that creatures from the ocean produce powerful substances that can help our immune system fight diseases like cancer and inflammation. These marine organisms—from tiny algae to sponges to fish—create natural compounds that can either boost or calm down our immune response depending on what we need. Several of these ocean-derived medicines are already approved for treating serious diseases, and many more are being tested in clinical trials. The ocean covers 70% of our planet and most of it remains unexplored, suggesting there are many more beneficial compounds waiting to be discovered.

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Edible Mushrooms and Beta-Glucans: Impact on Human Health

Mushrooms contain compounds called β-glucans that can help boost your immune system and reduce inflammation. These compounds show promise in cancer treatment when combined with conventional therapies and may help fight infections. While mushrooms have long been used in traditional medicine, modern research is confirming their health benefits and understanding how they work in the body.

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Chitosan and Chitooligosaccharide: The Promising Non-Plant-Derived Prebiotics with Multiple Biological Activities

Chitosan and chitooligosaccharide are natural compounds derived from crustacean shells and fungi that act as prebiotics to improve gut health. These compounds can fight bacteria and viruses, reduce inflammation, protect against oxidative stress, and help maintain healthy weight and blood sugar levels. They represent a promising, biodegradable alternative to synthetic pharmaceuticals with multiple health benefits.

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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

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.

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Introduction to XIV updating course of antimicrobials and infectious diseases

Healthcare professionals gathered at a major conference in Madrid to learn about the latest advances in treating infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria and other pathogens. The course highlighted new antibiotic combinations that work against previously untreatable infections, faster ways to identify infections in emergency rooms and intensive care units, and modern treatment strategies based on scientific evidence. Speakers emphasized the importance of using antibiotics wisely, using personalized medicine approaches, and collaborating between laboratory scientists and clinicians to improve patient outcomes.

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

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.

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