emerging pathogen – mycolab.ai

Closing the diagnostic gap in medical mycology: The LODDY Test for identification of Lodderomyces elongisporus

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Researchers developed a simple and affordable test called the LODDY Test to identify a dangerous yeast called Lodderomyces elongisporus that is often mistaken for a similar but less dangerous yeast. This test uses color changes on a special culture medium to distinguish between different yeast species in just 48 hours without expensive equipment. The test works perfectly in laboratories worldwide and could help doctors in developing countries diagnose and treat serious fungal infections more quickly and accurately.

Cryptococcus albidus (Naganishia albida) meningitis in a young patient with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

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A 16-year-old boy with leukemia developed meningitis caused by a rare fungus called Cryptococcus albidus. Doctors initially thought he had a viral infection and started him on antiviral medication, but specialized fungal tests revealed the true culprit. Treatment with antifungal medications successfully cured the infection, demonstrating the importance of identifying the exact cause of infection to provide the right treatment.

Successful Management of Spondylodiscitis Caused by Aspergillus nidulans: A Case Report and Literature Review

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A 59-year-old patient with lymphoma developed a serious fungal spine infection caused by Aspergillus nidulans, a rare mold. The infection was diagnosed using imaging, fungal cultures, and laboratory testing. The patient was successfully treated with a 6-month course of the antifungal drug voriconazole without requiring surgery. This case is notable because it represents the first successful treatment of this extremely rare infection in a cancer patient.

Genome characterization of Trichophyton mentagrophytes genotype VII strain PG12DES from Italy

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Researchers in Italy analyzed the genetic makeup of a fungus called Trichophyton mentagrophytes that causes skin infections and appears to spread between people through sexual contact. The fungal strain studied was susceptible to all tested antifungal medications and shared similarities with a strain previously found in Moldova. This study helps doctors understand how this emerging fungal infection spreads globally and whether it’s developing resistance to treatments.

Molecular Identification of Candida Species among Iranian Patients: Pursuing Candida auris

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This study evaluated a simple molecular test called PCR-RFLP to identify different types of Candida fungi in hospitalized patients in Iran. Among 136 patient samples, researchers found eight different Candida species, with common Candida albicans being most prevalent, but other more dangerous species also present. No cases of the emerging pathogen Candida auris were found, though the test method can effectively detect it. The researchers conclude this cost-effective test could be valuable for identifying dangerous fungal infections in developing countries.

First case of invasive Rasamsonia argillacea in a child with chronic granulomatous disease in Qatar

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A 16-year-old girl with a rare immune system disorder called chronic granulomatous disease developed a serious fungal infection caused by Rasamsonia argillacea, a fungus that is not commonly seen in clinical practice. The infection presented as a painful collection in her chest wall that required surgery and multiple antifungal medications. This is the first reported case of this particular fungal infection in the Arabian Peninsula, and successful treatment required a combination of drugs chosen based on laboratory testing of the fungus’s resistance patterns.

First case report of tinea corporis caused by Trichophyton indotineae in Latin America

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A 21-year-old woman in Argentina developed a persistent skin infection caused by a fungus called Trichophyton indotineae, likely acquired during travel to Mexico. The infection did not respond to common antifungal medications like terbinafine, but responded well to treatment with a special formulation of itraconazole that was completely effective within four weeks. This case represents the first documented occurrence of this emerging fungal pathogen in Latin America and highlights the importance of molecular identification when standard treatments fail.

The first report of rhinosinusitis by Rhizopus delemar in a patient with severe COVID-19 in Iran: a case report

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A 63-year-old man hospitalized with COVID-19 developed a serious fungal sinus infection caused by a rare mold called Rhizopus delemar. Despite surgery to remove infected tissue and treatment with antifungal medication amphotericin B, the infection spread and the patient died after five weeks. This was the first documented case of this particular mold causing sinus infection in a COVID-19 patient in Iran, highlighting how severe fungal infections can occur as dangerous complications of COVID-19.

Magnusiomyces capitatus bloodstream infection in a patient with acute monocytic leukemia: A rare case report

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A 26-year-old patient with acute leukemia developed a rare fungal bloodstream infection caused by Magnusiomyces capitatus during cancer treatment. The infection was identified through advanced laboratory techniques including DNA sequencing and mass spectrometry. The patient was successfully treated with amphotericin B, highlighting the importance of rapid and accurate fungal identification for better patient outcomes.

Epidemiology and outcomes of Candida-associated osteoarticular infections: A multicentre retrospective study from Turkey

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Researchers in Turkey studied 73 patients with rare bone and joint infections caused by Candida fungi over 10 years. They found that about half of the infections were caused by species other than the common C. albicans, with some showing resistance to fluconazole antibiotics. Surgical procedures to clean out infected tissue significantly improved patient recovery, while patients with diabetes had worse outcomes and recovered less completely.

Research Keyword: emerging pathogen