antifungal resistance – Page 12

A rare case of invasive necrotizing myositis of the thigh caused by Basidiobolus ranarum: a multi-pronged approach to successfully managing a near-fatal polybacterial mycotic infection

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A 46-year-old man developed a severe fungal infection of his thigh caused by Basidiobolus ranarum, a rare fungus found in soil and animal feces. The infection worsened with secondary bacterial contamination, leading to tissue death and eventually requiring amputation. Doctors successfully treated the infection using a combination approach: antifungal medications (voriconazole and potassium iodide), antibiotics, and multiple surgical cleanings, though earlier treatment would have saved his limb.

Fusarium Corneal Abscess: A Case Report

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A healthy 20-year-old man developed a serious fungal eye infection caused by Fusarium, a soil fungus, despite having no typical risk factors like eye injury or contact lens wear. Doctors diagnosed the infection through laboratory tests showing fungal filaments and growing the organism in culture. The patient required multiple treatments including antifungal eye drops, injections directly into the cornea, and a graft from amniotic membrane (placenta tissue) to save his vision. The case demonstrates that fungal eye infections can occasionally occur in completely healthy people without obvious causes.

Deletion of RAP1 affects iron homeostasis, azole resistance, and virulence in Candida albicans

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Researchers found that a protein called Rap1 plays a critical role in how the dangerous fungus Candida albicans acquires and uses iron, which is essential for its survival in the human body. When the RAP1 gene was deleted, the fungus became much less virulent and lethal in infected mice, while paradoxically becoming more resistant to the antifungal drug fluconazole under iron-limited conditions. These findings suggest that targeting iron acquisition through Rap1 could be a new therapeutic strategy against serious fungal infections.

Overexpression of efflux pump and biofilm associated genes in itraconazole resistant Candida albicans isolates causing onychomycosis

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Researchers studied why some fungal nail infections caused by Candida albicans stop responding to the antifungal drug itraconazole. They found that resistant fungal cells have higher activity of genes that pump the drug out of cells and produce slimy protective coatings called biofilms. These resistant fungi also formed less dense biofilms when the drug was present from the start. Understanding these resistance mechanisms could help develop new treatments by targeting the pump systems or breaking down the protective biofilm layers.

Brown locusts, Locustana pardalina, host fluconazole-resistant Candidozyma (Candida) auris, closely related to Clade III clinical strains

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Scientists found that brown locusts in South Africa carry a dangerous yeast called Candida auris that is resistant to the antifungal drug fluconazole. This yeast is similar to strains that infect hospital patients and is highly adaptable, surviving extreme temperatures and salt levels found in locust guts. This discovery suggests that insects like locusts could play a role in spreading this emerging fungal pathogen in nature, which has important implications for understanding how dangerous microbes spread between animals and humans.

Evaluation of Clinical, Microbiological Profiles and Management Patterns with Outcomes of Patients with Fungal Isolates in An Intensive Care Unit of A Tertiary Care Center: A Prospective Observational Study

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This study examined fungal infections in patients staying in intensive care units at a hospital. Researchers found that diabetes was the most common risk factor, and a fungus called Candida tropicalis was the most frequently isolated organism from urine samples. Many of the fungal strains were resistant to fluconazole, a common antifungal medication, suggesting doctors need to choose different treatments based on which drugs the fungi are resistant to.

HIV protease inhibitors restore amphotericin B activity against Candida

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Researchers discovered that HIV protease inhibitors, medications commonly used to treat HIV, can significantly enhance the effectiveness of amphotericin B, a powerful antifungal drug. When combined, these medications work synergistically to kill the dangerous fungus Candida auris, reduce its ability to form protective biofilms, and lower infection levels. This finding suggests a promising new treatment strategy for multidrug-resistant fungal infections that currently pose a serious global health threat.

The association of Yarrowia lipolytica with onychomycosis

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A 20-year-old woman suffered from a persistent toenail infection that didn’t respond to several standard antifungal treatments over five years. Researchers identified the culprit as Yarrowia lipolytica, a rare yeast not previously known to cause nail infections. Testing showed this yeast was resistant to common antifungal medications the patient had received, explaining why previous treatments failed. This unusual case highlights the importance of properly identifying fungal pathogens and testing them for drug resistance before starting treatment.

Safety and efficacy of the swift microwave device in patients with mild-to-moderate onychomycosis: Protocol of an open-label, randomized, dose-finding pilot study

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Onychomycosis, commonly known as toenail fungus, is a widespread infection affecting millions of people. Current treatments often fail or cause side effects. This study tests a new microwave device that heats the infected nail to kill the fungus without harming surrounding tissue or causing systemic side effects. Researchers are testing three different treatment schedules to find the most effective approach.

Clinical aspects and recent advances in fungal diseases impacting human health

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Fungal infections are becoming a major health threat, affecting over a billion people worldwide. The main problems are difficulty diagnosing these infections, increasing resistance to current medications, and limited treatment options. Doctors and the public need better awareness, and new antifungal drugs with different approaches are needed to effectively treat resistant infections.

Research Keyword: antifungal resistance