antifungal susceptibility testing – Page 4

Caspofungin therapy in prosthetic valve endocarditis and candidemia due to itraconazole-resistant Candida glabrata (Nakaseomyces glabratus): A case report

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A 13-year-old boy developed a serious fungal infection on his replacement heart valve after recent surgery. The fungal infection was caused by a type of yeast called Candida glabrata that was resistant to the initial antifungal medication. After testing revealed resistance and biofilm formation, doctors switched to caspofungin, a stronger antifungal drug, and the patient recovered successfully.

Two Cases of Fungal Melanonychia

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This paper describes two unusual cases where fungal infections of the toenails caused dark pigmentation (melanonychia). The first patient had a combination of two fungi (Aspergillus hiratsukae and Trichosporon faecale) causing black nail streaks, while the second had Exophiala xenobiotica and Trichophyton interdigitale causing dark-brown discoloration. Both patients were successfully treated with an antifungal medication called efinaconazole over several months.

Antifungal stewardship in the UK: where are we now?

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Fungal infections are becoming more common and dangerous because some fungi are developing resistance to antifungal medicines. UK hospitals struggle to manage these infections due to lack of funding, staffing, and limited access to fungal testing services. The paper recommends creating regional fungal expertise centers and setting national standards to improve how antifungal medications are used and monitored across the country.

Clinical and Genomic Insights into Antifungal Resistance in Aspergillus Isolates from Thailand

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Researchers in Thailand found that certain fungal infections caused by Aspergillus fumigatus are becoming resistant to common antifungal medications like voriconazole. They identified a specific genetic mutation called TR34/L98H in one patient sample that makes the fungus resistant to azole drugs used to treat these serious infections. By analyzing the genetic makeup of these resistant fungi, scientists discovered additional changes beyond the known resistance gene, suggesting these organisms may adapt in multiple ways to survive treatment. This is the first time this particular resistance mutation has been detected in a clinical patient sample in Thailand, indicating that antifungal resistance in Aspergillus is spreading and requires closer monitoring and testing.

Candida krusei Empyema: A Lung Transplant Case and Systematic Review of the Literature

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Candida krusei is a dangerous fungus that can cause fluid buildup around the lungs (empyema), particularly in transplant patients. Unlike common fungal infections that respond to fluconazole, this species is naturally resistant to this drug, making it harder to treat. The fungus forms protective biofilms that shield it from treatment, requiring combination antifungal medications and sometimes surgery to drain the fluid and remove infected tissue for successful recovery.

Changing Climate, Changing Candida: Environmental and Social Pressures on Invasive Candidiasis and Antifungal Resistance in Latin America

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Invasive fungal infections caused by Candida yeasts are becoming more serious in Latin America, with drug-resistant strains spreading rapidly in hospitals. The problem is worsened by climate change and overuse of antifungal medicines in agriculture, which help resistant fungi survive and spread. Many hospitals in the region lack modern diagnostic tools to quickly identify the specific type of infection, delaying treatment. The authors recommend a comprehensive approach combining better environmental monitoring, smarter use of antifungal drugs, improved diagnostic access, and coordinated public health efforts across the region.

Prevalence and antifungal susceptibility profiles of Candida isolates among patients with candiduria: a multiplex PCR assay

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Researchers studied yeast infections in urine from hospitalized patients using advanced molecular testing. They found that while Candida albicans was most common, other yeast species were becoming more resistant to antifungal medications. The study used a 21-tube PCR test to identify different yeast species and tested which medications worked best against them. Results showed that newer yeast species were much more likely to resist commonly used antifungal drugs like fluconazole.

Clinical profiling, antifungal drug susceptibility, and biofilm formation ability in pulmonary mucormycosis

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This study examined 26 patients with a serious lung fungal infection called mucormycosis in a Beijing hospital. Most patients were older with health problems like diabetes and high blood pressure, and sadly about 4 in 10 died. Interestingly, most patients had other infections (viral or fungal) before developing mucormycosis. The researchers tested which antifungal drugs worked best against the fungus, finding that amphotericin B was most effective, though it can damage kidneys. They also discovered that most of the fungal strains could form protective biofilm structures, making treatment more difficult.

Two Cases of Curvularia geniculata Keratitis Successfully Treated with Natamycin-Based Therapy

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Two patients developed rare fungal eye infections caused by Curvularia geniculata after eye injuries from plant material. The infections caused corneal ulcers with characteristic feathery infiltrates. Both patients were successfully treated using natamycin eyedrops, either alone or combined with voriconazole, and both recovered excellent vision. Accurate identification of the fungus using genetic testing confirmed the diagnosis and helped guide treatment decisions.

Dual fungal endocarditis in a pediatric dialysis patient: First case of Aspergillus flavus and Candida parapsilosis co-infection

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A 13-year-old boy with kidney disease requiring dialysis developed a rare dual fungal heart infection caused by two different fungi simultaneously. Doctors diagnosed the infection using heart imaging, blood tests, and tissue examination, then treated him with antifungal medications and two heart surgeries to remove infected tissue and replace a damaged heart valve. Despite the extreme rarity and severity of this condition, the patient survived, which had never been reported in children before.

Research Keyword: antifungal susceptibility testing