A 52-year-old woman with lupus developed a widespread fungal skin infection that was initially mistaken for worsening lupus symptoms. The infection affected her scalp, face, and nails with two different types of fungi. After six months of treatment with antifungal medications, her symptoms resolved completely with no return of the infection during follow-up.
Candida glabrata is a dangerous fungus causing serious infections that is becoming resistant to antifungal drugs. Researchers used a genetic screening technique to find genes that interact with drug resistance mutations and identified methotrexate (a drug already used for arthritis) as a potential partner for fluconazole treatment. When combined, these drugs work better together against resistant strains of the fungus, offering hope for treating these stubborn infections.
A middle-aged man with undiagnosed diabetes developed a serious fungal infection called mucormycosis that affected his sinuses, eyes, and brain. He presented with flu-like symptoms and facial weakness, and blood tests showed dangerously high blood sugar and acid levels (diabetic ketoacidosis). Doctors treated him with multiple rounds of antifungal medications, several surgeries, and innovative injections directly into and around his eyes and spinal cord, resulting in his successful recovery and discharge.