Fungal infections – Page 21

One for All and All for One: Multikingdom Interplay in Severe Viral Pneumonia

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This editorial discusses how bacteria, viruses, and fungi interact in the lungs during severe pneumonia from COVID-19 or influenza. When mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19 had bacterial infections detected, their immune systems released more inflammatory chemicals. However, the same pattern was not observed in influenza patients. Understanding how all these microorganisms work together may help doctors better treat these serious lung infections.

Vesicle inhibition reduces Candida biofilm resistance

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Researchers found that common FDA-approved drugs designed to block vesicle production in human cells can also reduce the protective matrix that Candida fungus builds around itself in biofilms. By combining these vesicle-blocking drugs with the antifungal fluconazole, the scientists were able to kill biofilm-forming Candida more effectively than either treatment alone. This discovery suggests a new approach to treating stubborn fungal infections on medical devices like catheters, potentially eliminating the need to surgically remove infected equipment.

Deep cutaneous phaeohyphomycosis caused by Cladophialophora boppii: A case report

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A 69-year-old woman with breast cancer developed a skin infection caused by a rare fungus called Cladophialophora boppii while taking dexamethasone for cancer treatment. Doctors diagnosed the infection through skin biopsy and fungal testing, then removed the infected area surgically. After three weeks of antifungal medication (itraconazole), the infection cleared completely and did not return during four months of follow-up. This case suggests that surgery combined with short-term antifungal treatment may be sufficient for this type of infection.

Recognizing the Importance of Public Health Mycology

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This editorial highlights how fungal infections are a growing but overlooked global health crisis, killing about 2.5 million people annually. The paper brings together seven research articles studying different fungal diseases, from lung infections to skin conditions, showing how these diseases spread differently in different populations and how resistance to antifungal medications is increasing. The authors emphasize that better testing, treatment access, and worldwide disease tracking are urgently needed, especially in poorer countries where the burden of fungal disease is highest.

Rhinocerebral Mucormycosis in a Patient With Diabetes: A Rare but Critical Infection in the United Arab Emirates

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A middle-aged man with undiagnosed diabetes developed a serious fungal infection called mucormycosis that affected his sinuses, eyes, and brain. He presented with flu-like symptoms and facial weakness, and blood tests showed dangerously high blood sugar and acid levels (diabetic ketoacidosis). Doctors treated him with multiple rounds of antifungal medications, several surgeries, and innovative injections directly into and around his eyes and spinal cord, resulting in his successful recovery and discharge.

Photo Quiz: A cutaneous fungal infection with discordant biomarker results—a diagnostic challenge

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A woman with advanced HIV disease presented with unusual skin lesions that were initially suspected to be from a virus, but laboratory testing revealed a rare fungal infection called histoplasmosis caused by Histoplasma capsulatum. The case was challenging because some standard fungal tests came back negative even though the patient had the infection, showing why doctors need to rely on culture and examination under the microscope. She was treated with antifungal medications and her diagnosis highlights the importance of considering fungal infections in severely immunocompromised patients even when initial tests seem negative.

Combination of Q-switched 1,064 and 532 nm Nd: YAG laser in the treatment of toenail onychomycosis: a pilot study

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This study tested a dual-wavelength laser treatment for toenail fungal infections (onychomycosis) in 15 patients. The laser therapy successfully cured about one-third of patients with mild infections, but was less effective for severe cases. The treatment was safe and well-tolerated, though patients experienced moderate pain during sessions.

Engineered biosynthesis and characterization of disaccharide-pimaricin

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Scientists successfully created a genetically engineered bacterium that produces a safer version of an antifungal drug called pimaricin. The new version, called disaccharide-pimaricin, dissolves much better in water and causes significantly less damage to human blood cells, making it a much safer option for treating fungal infections. Although it’s slightly less effective at killing fungi, the improvement in safety and solubility makes it a promising candidate for treating eye infections and other fungal diseases.

The Brief Case: Cutaneous ulceration associated with acalabrutinib treatment

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A 72-year-old patient being treated with acalabrutinib for blood cancer developed a slowly growing skin ulcer on the thigh. Testing identified a fungal infection caused by Alternaria alternata, a mold found in soil and air. The patient was successfully treated with an antifungal medication called posaconazole, with the ulcer healing over one month. This case highlights that doctors should check for fungal infections in chronic skin wounds of patients taking BTK inhibitor medications.

Epidemiology of mucormycosis in COVID-19 patients in northwest Iran: Rhizopus arrhizus as the predominant species

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This study found that COVID-19 patients in northwestern Iran who received high-dose steroid treatment developed serious fungal infections called mucormycosis. The infection was caused primarily by a fungus called Rhizopus arrhizus and affected mainly the sinuses and brain. The steroids used to treat COVID-19 weakened patients’ immune systems and triggered diabetes, both of which made them vulnerable to this dangerous fungal infection.

Research Topic: Fungal infections