Research Topic: aspergillosis

Breakthrough Invasive Mould Infections Under Posaconazole Prophylaxis in Patients With Haematologic Malignancies: A Case–Control Study

This study examined cases where patients receiving posaconazole to prevent fungal infections still developed serious mould infections despite the medication. Researchers compared 29 patients who developed these breakthrough infections with 46 control patients who did not. They found that over half of patients with breakthrough infections died, compared to only 20% of controls, and that surgical treatment significantly improved survival for certain types of fungal infections.

Read More »

Aspergillus fumigatus dsRNA virus promotes fungal fitness and pathogenicity in the mammalian host

A virus that infects the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus makes the fungus more dangerous by helping it survive stress and resist immune cell attack. When researchers removed the virus from the fungus, it became weaker and less harmful to infected mice. Treating infected mice with an antiviral drug called ribavirin reduced the virus, lowering fungal burden and improving survival, suggesting that targeting fungal viruses could be a new way to treat serious fungal infections.

Read More »

Frequency and Distribution of Broncho-Alveolar Fungi in Lung Diseases in Martinique

This study examined fungal samples from the lungs of over 1500 patients in Martinique using a special procedure called broncho-alveolar lavage. Researchers found that fungi were very common in respiratory samples, with specific types of fungi appearing more frequently in different lung diseases. For example, certain mold-like fungi were more common in patients with bronchiectasis (damaged airways), while yeast-like fungi were more common in patients with pneumonia. The findings suggest that tropical climate and environmental conditions significantly influence which fungi colonize the lungs.

Read More »

Fungal Infections – a Stealthy Enemy in Patients with Chronic Granulomatous Disease: a 28-years’ Experience from North India

Patients with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD), a rare immune system disorder, are highly susceptible to serious fungal infections. This study of 99 patients over 28 years found that 40% developed fungal infections, mostly caused by Aspergillus fungi affecting the lungs. These infections were life-threatening, with over half the infected patients dying despite aggressive treatment with antifungal medications. Doctors need to screen for fungal infections early, even in patients without obvious symptoms, and treat infants and males more aggressively.

Read More »

A Unique Case of Fungal Endometritis Caused by Aspergillus quadrilineatus in an Immunocompetent Woman and Literature Review

A 64-year-old woman experienced persistent vaginal bleeding for three months, which was found to be caused by a rare fungal infection (Aspergillus quadrilineatus) in her uterus. Through tissue examination and molecular testing, doctors identified the fungus and found it was sensitive to common antifungal medications. The patient was successfully treated with antifungal medication combined with surgical cleaning of the uterus, making a complete recovery. This case highlights that fungal infections should be considered when patients have abnormal vaginal bleeding, even if they appear otherwise healthy.

Read More »

Time- and temperature-dependent Pentraxin 3 stability in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples

Pentraxin 3 is a protein marker that helps doctors detect serious fungal infections. This study tested how well this marker stays stable in blood and lung fluid samples when stored at different temperatures over long periods. The results show that samples should be kept frozen at −20°C or −80°C to preserve the marker, but samples left at room temperature or warmer are quickly damaged and unreliable for testing.

Read More »

Analysis of Susceptibility and Drug Resistance of Antifungal Agents in Aspergillosis and Mucormycosis Patients: A Systematic Review

This comprehensive study analyzed how well five major antifungal drugs work against common disease-causing fungi like Aspergillus and Mucorales. Researchers reviewed 96 studies examining over 16,000 fungal samples to understand resistance patterns. The findings show that different fungi respond better to different drugs—for example, Aspergillus flavus responds well to voriconazole, while amphotericin B works best against other Aspergillus species. This information helps doctors choose the most effective treatments for fungal infections in vulnerable patients.

Read More »

Aspergillus latus: A cryptic causative agent of aspergillosis emerging in Japan

Researchers in Japan discovered that a dangerous fungus called Aspergillus latus, previously unknown in the country, has been causing infections since at least 2013. This fungus is difficult to identify because it looks similar to other related species and is actually a hybrid created from two different Aspergillus species. The study found seven cases of this fungus in clinical samples and discovered that it is resistant to some common antifungal medications, making accurate identification crucial for proper patient treatment.

Read More »

Estimated burden of serious mycoses in Poland

This study reveals that Poland has a significant but underreported problem with serious fungal infections affecting thousands of people annually. The most common fungal infections are yeast infections like candidosis, while mold infections like aspergillosis are the most serious in immunocompromised patients. The research shows that current reporting systems severely underestimate the true burden of these infections, highlighting the need for better surveillance and diagnostic practices.

Read More »

The 2024 International Society for Human and Animal Mycology (ISHAM)-ABPA working group guidelines: Transforming diagnosis and management of ABPA

ABPA is a serious lung disease that develops when the body overreacts to a common fungus called Aspergillus. New international guidelines help doctors better diagnose and treat this condition, which affects many people with asthma and cystic fibrosis. The guidelines make diagnosis easier by using simpler tests and lowering the thresholds for detecting the disease, and they provide clear treatment plans depending on how severe each patient’s disease is. These updated standards are especially important in countries like India where ABPA is very common.

Read More »
Scroll to Top