MALDI-TOF MS – mycolab.ai

Addressing Critical Fungal Pathogens Under a One Health Perspective: Key Insights from the Portuguese Association of Medical Mycology

mycolabadmin

Four dangerous fungal species pose growing threats to human health worldwide, especially for people with weakened immune systems. Portugal’s medical experts have reviewed the current situation, finding these fungi increasingly resistant to treatment, present in hospitals and the environment, and occasionally spreading from animals to people. The review emphasizes the need for better testing, coordinated tracking systems, and approaches that consider human, animal, and environmental health together to combat this emerging crisis.

Candida auris: Outbreak, surveillance and epidemiological monitoring in Northern Greece

mycolabadmin

A dangerous fungus called Candida auris caused an outbreak in hospitals in Northern Greece starting in October 2022. This fungus is particularly concerning because it is resistant to many commonly used antifungal drugs, especially fluconazole. Researchers monitored and tracked the outbreak across multiple hospitals, finding that all cases belonged to the same genetic type (Clade I) and were treatable with certain alternative antifungal medications. The study emphasizes the importance of careful laboratory surveillance and coordinated infection control measures to prevent further spread of this serious infection.

Identification of Challenging Dermatophyte Species Using Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry

mycolabadmin

This study shows how MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, a rapid laboratory technique, can accurately identify different types of dermatophyte fungi that cause ringworm and other skin infections. By creating a customized reference library combining commercial and locally-collected fungal samples, researchers improved identification accuracy from 16% to 91%. This advancement helps doctors identify the specific fungus causing a skin infection more quickly and accurately, enabling better treatment decisions.

Traumatic implantation keratitis caused by Schizophyllum commune in Central India

mycolabadmin

This report describes two patients in India who developed serious fungal eye infections (keratitis) after corneal injuries. The infection was caused by Schizophyllum commune, a mushroom-like fungus found on decaying wood. Despite aggressive treatment with antifungal medications and surgery, both patients lost vision in their affected eyes. The case highlights how difficult it is to identify and treat this rare fungus.

Candida blankii: The Difficult Capture of a Fungus With Pathogenic Potential

mycolabadmin

Candida blankii is a rare fungal pathogen that is increasingly being found in hospital patients’ bloodstreams and respiratory tracts. The organism is difficult to identify using standard laboratory tests, which can delay diagnosis and treatment. This case report describes two adult patients with C. blankii infections and highlights the challenges in identifying this emerging pathogen and its resistance to common antifungal medications.

Prevalence of Candida and Other Yeasts in Vulvovaginal Infections during Pregnancy: A 10-Year Serbian Survey

mycolabadmin

This study examined yeast infections in pregnant Serbian women over 10 years, finding that nearly half had positive tests. While Candida albicans was most common, many other yeast species were also identified, some of which are resistant to common antifungal medications. Using advanced laboratory techniques (MALDI-TOF MS), researchers found more accurate identification was possible, which is important since different yeasts require different treatments, especially during pregnancy when some medications can harm the baby.

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

mycolabadmin

A 26-year-old patient with acute leukemia developed a serious fungal blood infection caused by Magnusiomyces capitatus, a rare organism found in environmental sources. The infection was confirmed using advanced molecular techniques and showed resistance to common antifungal drugs but responded to amphotericin B treatment. This case highlights how important it is for doctors to consider unusual fungi in severely immunocompromised patients and to use modern diagnostic methods for accurate identification and tailored treatment.

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

mycolabadmin

This survey examined how well hospitals in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg can diagnose and treat serious fungal infections, which are particularly dangerous for people with weakened immune systems. The researchers found that while most hospitals can test fungal samples, not all have access to all necessary diagnostic tools, especially tests for detecting resistant fungi and identifying fungal co-infections. Many hospitals outsource their testing to other facilities, which can delay diagnosis and treatment, and some hospitals lack access to all recommended antifungal medications.

Prevalence of Candida and Other Yeasts in Vulvovaginal Infections during Pregnancy: A 10-Year Serbian Survey

mycolabadmin

This 10-year study from Serbia examined vaginal yeast infections in nearly 2,200 pregnant women. Researchers found that yeast infections occurred in about 48% of symptomatic pregnant women, with Candida albicans being the most common cause. Importantly, the study discovered that other yeast species are increasingly important in these infections, and new identification methods (MALDI-TOF MS) revealed these species are often misidentified by traditional laboratory methods. The findings suggest that accurate yeast identification is essential for choosing the right treatment during pregnancy.

Identification of Challenging Dermatophyte Species Using Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry

mycolabadmin

This study shows that MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry is an effective method for quickly identifying skin fungal infections caused by dermatophytes. By combining commercial reference databases with a custom library created from local isolates, researchers achieved 90.7% accurate identification compared to only 16.1% using the commercial database alone. This improved method could help doctors diagnose and treat fungal skin infections more quickly and accurately in clinical laboratories.

Research Keyword: MALDI-TOF MS