antimicrobial resistance – Page 6

Prevalence of fungi and their antifungal and disinfectant resistance in hospital environments: insights into combating nosocomial mycoses

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This study examined how fungal infections spread in hospital settings by testing air and surfaces in Iranian hospital intensive care units. Researchers found that dangerous fungi like Aspergillus and Rhizopus were commonly present, especially in air ducts, and many of these fungi could resist common antifungal medications and disinfectants. The findings suggest that hospital environments serve as sources of infection for vulnerable patients and that better cleaning and air filtration systems are needed to protect hospitalized patients.

Spread of Antifungal-Resistant Trichophyton indotineae, United Kingdom, 2017–2024

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A highly resistant fungal infection called Trichophyton indotineae is rapidly spreading throughout the United Kingdom. Originally from southern Asia, this fungus causes difficult-to-treat skin infections, particularly in the groin area, and resists standard antifungal medications in about three-quarters of cases. Since 2023, cases have spread from London to other parts of the UK and Ireland, and experts predict it will soon become the leading cause of ringworm in the country.

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

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Researchers studied how involving pharmacy students in reviewing fluconazole (an antifungal medication) prescriptions could help hospitals improve their antifungal medication use and provide valuable training. Out of 145 prescriptions audited, about two-thirds were appropriate while one-third had issues like unnecessary use or drug interactions. Both the students and hospitals benefited significantly, with students gaining practical clinical experience while hospitals identified prescribing problems that could be improved.

Biofilms and Chronic Wounds: Pathogenesis and Treatment Options

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Chronic wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers and burn injuries, are often complicated by bacterial and fungal biofilms—protective communities of microorganisms that resist antibiotics and delay healing. This review summarizes how biofilms form, why they are difficult to treat with standard approaches, and discusses new therapeutic strategies. While debridement and antiseptics remain important, combining them with novel treatments like bacteriophages, enzyme therapies, and nanotechnology offers better chances for healing these stubborn wounds.

The in vitro activity of iron chelator deferiprone against Candida (Candidozyma) auris in combination with antifungal agents

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Researchers studied how an iron-chelating medication called deferiprone could improve the effectiveness of antifungal drugs against Candida auris, a dangerous drug-resistant fungus. They tested deferiprone combined with several common antifungal medications on different strains of the fungus from around the world. They found that deferiprone worked best when combined with echinocandin drugs, especially against certain regional variants of the fungus, potentially offering a new therapeutic approach for these difficult-to-treat infections.

Strategies and materials for the prevention and treatment of biofilms

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Biofilms are sticky communities of bacteria that form on medical devices and surfaces, making infections very difficult to treat with antibiotics. This review explains how biofilms develop in stages and describes different ways to stop them from forming or to destroy them once they exist. Solutions include special coatings on medical implants, natural plant extracts like essential oils, and engineered proteins called antimicrobial peptides that fight bacteria without creating antibiotic resistance.

Molecular Identification, Mycelial Growth Kinetics, and Antimicrobial Potential of Newly Isolated Medicinal Mushroom Fomitopsis pinicola from Bulgaria

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Scientists isolated and studied a medicinal mushroom called Fomitopsis pinicola from Bulgaria. They confirmed its identity using DNA analysis and tested how well it grows on different nutrient media. The mushroom showed strong antimicrobial effects against disease-causing bacteria, especially when extracted with water, making it a promising candidate for developing new antibiotics to fight antibiotic-resistant infections.

Antifungal Effect of Cinnamon Bark Extract on the Phytopathogenic Fungus Fusarium sporotrichioides

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This study tested whether cinnamon bark extract could stop the growth of a harmful fungus called Fusarium sporotrichioides that damages crops and produces toxins. Researchers used a water-based cinnamon extract at different concentrations on fungal cultures and found that the highest concentration significantly reduced fungal growth and caused visible damage to fungal structures. The cinnamon extract contains natural compounds with antifungal properties that could potentially be used as an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic fungicides in agriculture.

Phytochemical Profile and Antimicrobial Activities of Edible Mushroom Termitomyces striatus

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Researchers studied an edible mushroom called Termitomyces striatus traditionally consumed in Africa and Asia to understand its disease-fighting properties. They found that extracts from this mushroom contain beneficial compounds that can kill harmful bacteria and fungi in laboratory tests. The dichloromethane extract was the most effective, showing strong activity against multiple disease-causing bacteria and the yeast Candida albicans. This suggests the mushroom could potentially be developed into new natural antimicrobial treatments.

Circadian clock is critical for fungal pathogenesis by regulating zinc starvation response and secondary metabolism

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Scientists discovered that Fusarium oxysporum, a fungus that causes plant diseases, uses an internal clock system to time its attacks on plants. The fungus is most dangerous at dawn, when it activates special genes to survive the plant’s defenses and produce toxins. By disrupting the fungus’s clock genes, researchers found they could make it harmless. This discovery could lead to new ways to protect crops by targeting the pathogen’s timing system rather than using traditional fungicides.

Research Keyword: antimicrobial resistance