infection control – Page 2

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.

Should all hospitalised patients colonised with Candida auris be considered for isolation?

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Candida auris is a dangerous yeast found in hospitals that can spread quickly between patients and is very difficult to treat. Healthcare experts in the Netherlands have decided that all hospital patients carrying this fungus should be isolated in single rooms, even if their strain is susceptible to antifungal drugs, because the infection can develop resistance quickly and cause serious illness. This strict isolation approach helps prevent outbreaks and protects vulnerable patients from developing life-threatening blood infections.

Introduction to XIV updating course of antimicrobials and infectious diseases

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Healthcare professionals gathered at a major conference in Madrid to learn about the latest advances in treating infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria and other pathogens. The course highlighted new antibiotic combinations that work against previously untreatable infections, faster ways to identify infections in emergency rooms and intensive care units, and modern treatment strategies based on scientific evidence. Speakers emphasized the importance of using antibiotics wisely, using personalized medicine approaches, and collaborating between laboratory scientists and clinicians to improve patient outcomes.

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.

PTP1B deficiency in myeloid cells increases susceptibility to Candida albicans systemic infection by modulating antifungal immunity

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This research shows that a protein called PTP1B plays an important role in protecting the body against dangerous yeast infections caused by Candida albicans. When this protein is missing from immune cells, mice become much more susceptible to severe fungal infections. The study found that PTP1B helps immune cells called macrophages and neutrophils kill fungi effectively, and when it’s absent, these immune cells work poorly. This discovery suggests that targeting PTP1B could be a new way to help patients fight off serious fungal infections.

Incidence and Risk Factors for Invasive Fungal Infection in Patients with Hematological Malignancies at a Tertiary Hospital in Malaysia

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This study examined fungal infections in cancer patients with blood disorders in a Malaysian hospital. Researchers found that about 7.6% of patients developed serious fungal infections, mainly from Candida species. Using antifungal medications to prevent infection significantly reduced the risk, though some patients still developed infections while taking preventive medications. The findings highlight the importance of appropriate antifungal treatment strategies in managing these vulnerable patients.

Performance Evaluation of Five Real-Time PCR Assays for the Detection of Candida auris DNA

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Candida auris is a dangerous fungal infection that spreads in hospitals and resists common antifungal medications. Researchers compared five different rapid tests (PCR assays) to see which ones best detect this pathogen. The study found that different tests vary widely in their ability to detect the fungus, with some being much more sensitive than others. The findings highlight the need for standardized testing methods worldwide to ensure hospitals can reliably identify and control C. auris infections.

A human-relevant alternative infection model for mucormycosis using the silkworm Bombyx mori

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Scientists developed a new way to test antifungal drugs using silkworms instead of expensive and ethically problematic mammal studies. They infected silkworms with mucormycosis-causing fungi and found that the infections behaved similarly to human cases, especially when they simulated human risk factors like steroid use and iron overload. The silkworm model successfully demonstrated that existing antifungal drugs work, while also revealing differences in fungal virulence that were linked to specific surface proteins.

Neonatal Invasive Candidiasis: Current Concepts

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Serious fungal infections (candidiasis) in newborns have become increasingly difficult to treat, especially in developing countries. The types of fungi causing these infections have changed dramatically, with many now resisting the standard fluconazole treatment. Modern medical care, like proper handwashing, environmental cleaning, and careful line care, is actually more effective at preventing these infections than giving preventive antifungal drugs. Healthcare providers need better tools for quickly identifying which fungal species is causing infection and which drugs will work against it.

Research Keyword: infection control