immunocompromised patients – Page 7

Mechanisms of Talaromyces marneffei induced CNS injury: Synergistic roles of tauopathy, pyroptosis, and microglial inflammation

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A dangerous fungus called Talaromyces marneffei can invade the brain and cause serious damage in people with weakened immune systems. The study shows the fungus harms brain cells through two pathways: direct damage to neurons and indirect damage through activation of brain immune cells that release harmful inflammatory chemicals. Understanding these mechanisms could help develop better treatments for this life-threatening infection.

Disseminated sporotrichosis caused by Sporothrix brasiliensis with testicular involvement

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This case report describes a rare fungal infection caused by Sporothrix brasiliensis in a 35-year-old man living with HIV/AIDS. The infection spread throughout his body, affecting his skin, lungs, brain, and testicles. Doctors initially thought the testicular involvement was cancer and removed the testicle, but lab tests confirmed it was a fungal infection. The patient was successfully treated with antifungal medications and remains disease-free one year later.

Low Antigen Titre Disseminated Cryptococcosis in Immunocompromised Hosts: Two Challenging Case Reports

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Two patients with weakened immune systems developed serious fungal blood infections from Cryptococcus despite having unusually low levels of fungal markers in their blood. One was a kidney transplant patient and the other had HIV. Neither showed signs of brain infection, which is unusual for this disease. Both were successfully treated with aggressive antifungal medications once blood cultures confirmed the disseminated infection.

Fungal pathogens and symbionts: Living off the fat of the land

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Certain fungi that live exclusively in or on hosts have evolved a clever survival strategy: they stopped making their own fatty acids and instead steal them from their hosts. This includes fungi that cause pneumonia in immunocompromised patients, yeasts on skin, and beneficial fungi that help plants absorb nutrients from soil. By examining how these fungi scavenge fatty acids from their hosts, scientists hope to develop better treatments and diagnostic tools for fungal infections.

Evaluation of Antifungal Activity Against Candida albicans Isolates From HIV-Positive Patients with Oral Candidiasis in a Major Referral Hospital, West Java, Indonesia

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Researchers in West Java, Indonesia studied fungal infections in the mouths of HIV-positive patients to understand which antifungals work best. They found that a common fungal species called Candida albicans was present in all patients tested, though some resistant strains were discovered. The study showed that certain antifungal medications like voriconazole worked better than others, highlighting the importance of testing which specific medications will be effective for each patient rather than guessing.

Detection of Mucorales antigen in bronchoalveolar lavage samples using a newly developed lateral-flow device

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Researchers developed and tested a new rapid test (TG11-LFD) for detecting mucormycosis, a dangerous fungal infection, using a simple device similar to a COVID rapid test. The test detects a specific protein marker released by Mucorales fungi in lung fluid samples. In testing with 62 clinical samples, the new test correctly identified about 77% of actual infections and was negative in about 76% of non-infected samples. This affordable, simple test could help doctors quickly diagnose mucormycosis and start life-saving treatment faster, especially in countries with limited laboratory resources.

ESCMID-EFISG Survey on Diagnostic and Therapeutic Capacity for Invasive Fungal Infections in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg: A Focus on High Azole Resistance

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This survey examined how well hospitals in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg can diagnose and treat serious fungal infections, especially in patients whose immune systems are weakened. The researchers found that while most hospitals have good access to testing and antifungal medications, some important tests are still missing, and many hospitals send samples to other facilities for testing, which can delay treatment. Since this region has unusually high rates of fungal infections that resist common antifungal drugs, improving access to advanced diagnostic tests is crucial for patient survival.

Mucor germinans, a novel dimorphic species resembling Paracoccidioides in a clinical sample: questions on ecological strategy

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Researchers discovered a new fungus called Mucor germinans that infected a cancer patient’s lungs and appeared as yeast cells rather than the typical thread-like fungal structures. This is unusual because Mucor infections normally show filamentous hyphae, and the yeast-like appearance made it look like a different fungus, potentially delaying correct diagnosis and treatment. The study shows that this fungus can change forms depending on temperature and other conditions, and identifying it requires checking for multiple nuclei in the cells to distinguish it from other similar-looking yeasts.

Disseminated cryptococcosis in an HIV patient with hepatitis C as the associated risk factor

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A 29-year-old patient with HIV and hepatitis C developed a serious fungal infection caused by Cryptococcus neoformans that spread to the brain. The infection was diagnosed through blood and spinal fluid tests and treated successfully with antifungal medications. This case shows why it is important to recognize and treat fungal infections quickly in people with weakened immune systems and multiple health conditions.

Brazilian task force for the management of mucormycosis

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Mucormycosis is a rare but deadly fungal infection that has been increasingly reported in Brazil, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. This Brazilian medical task force developed practical guidelines for diagnosing and treating this serious infection, which primarily affects people with uncontrolled diabetes or weakened immune systems. The key to survival is early diagnosis combined with aggressive surgery and specific antifungal medications, along with controlling blood sugar and immune system suppression.

Research Keyword: immunocompromised patients