Pulmonary dimorphic fungal infections among HIV/AIDS non-TB patients with chronic cough in Kampala, Uganda.

INTRODUCTION: Dimorphic fungi cause infection following the inhalation of spores into the pulmonary system. In the lower respiratory tract, the conidia transform into yeasts, which are engulfed by alveolar macrophages and may be destroyed without disease manifestation. However, in some immunocompromised individuals, they may persist and cause active fungal disease characterized by formation of granulomas in the infected tissues, which may mimic Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of pulmonary dimorphic fungal infections among HIV/AIDS patients with non-TB chronic cough at Mulago National Referral and Teaching Hospital in Kampala, Uganda. METHODS: Sputum samples were collected from 175 consented HIV/AIDS patients attending the immuno-suppression syndrome (ISS) clinic at the hospital. Upon Xpert MTB/RIF sputum testing, 21 patients tested positive for MTB, and these were excluded from further analysis. The other 154 sputum negative samples were then subjected to PCR for dimorphic fungi at MBN Clinical Laboratories. Singleplex PCR was used to detect the target sequences in selected respective genes of each dimorphic fungal species of interest. DNA amplicons were detected based on gel electrophoresis. RESULTS: Dimorphic fungi were detected in 16.2% (25/154) of the studied population. Of these 9.1% (14/154) had Blastomyces dermatitidis and 7.1% (11/154) had Talaromyces marneffei. The remaining 84% of the studied participants had no dimorphic fungi. Histoplasma capsulatum, Coccidioides immitis and Paracoccidioides brasiliensis were not detected in any of the participants. CONCLUSION: Dimorphic fungi (B. dermatitidis and T. marneffei) were found in 16.2% of the HIV/AIDS patients with non-TB chronic cough in Kampala, Uganda. We recommend routine testing for these pathogens among HIV/AIDS patients with chronic cough.

[Tomography guided biopsy for the diagnosis of pediatric pulmonary Cryptococcosis]. / Punción Biopsia guiada por tomografía para el diagnóstico de Cryptococcosis pulmonar pediátrica.

Pulmonary cryptococcosis is a lung infection caused by the Cryptococcus yeast. It is rare in pediatrics, especially in immunocompetent children. The diagnosis of pulmonary cryptococcosis can be challenging due to the low specificity of symptoms, low index of suspicion, and limited diagnostic resources. OBJECTIVE: To describe a clinical case of pulmonary cryptococcosis in an immunocompetent adolescent, detailing the diagnostic approach. CLINICAL CASE: A 15-year-old patient, previously healthy, from a rural town, who consulted due to cough and a 1-month rib stitch pain, without fever or associated respiratory difficulty, with two images of condensation in the left lung on the chest x-ray. In the Computed Tomography, the images showed a nodular appearance. Due to suspicion of neoplastic pathology, a Positron Emission Tomography was performed, which showed hypermetabolic nodular lesions. The tomographic characteristics could correspond to fungal or granulomatous involvement. Considering the images and epidemiological risk factors such as rural origin and contact with bird droppings, the possibility of a mycosis was considered. A lung needle biopsy was performed under tomographic guidance. Cryptococcus neoformans was identified in the microbiology laboratory culture. The patient received treatment with itraconazole and fluconazole with good clinical and imaging response after 10 months of therapy and follow-up. CONCLUSION: In immunocompetent patients with a nonspecific clinical presentation, images can guide the diagnosis of pulmonary cryptococcosis, and an etiological search is essential to confirm it. In our case, the CT-guided needle biopsy was of great diagnostic utility.

Pulmonary histoplasmosis on the Chinese mainland: two case reports and literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Pulmonary histoplasmosis is a fungal disease that is endemic in North and Central America. It is relatively rare in China and commonly misdiagnosed as tuberculosis or cancer due to nonspecific clinical and radiographic manifestations. Rapid and accurate pathogen tests are critical for the diagnosis of pulmonary histoplasmosis. METHODOLOGY: We report two cases of pulmonary histoplasmosis. We collected all the relevant case reports on the Chinese mainland (from 1990 to 2022) to analyze features of this disease among Chinese patients. RESULTS: A total of 42 articles reporting 101 cases were identified, and the two cases reported in this article were also included for analysis. Sixty-three (61.2%) patients had respiratory symptoms and 35 (34.0%) patients were asymptomatic. The most common radiographic findings were pulmonary nodules or masses (81.6%). Twenty-two (21.4%) patients were misdiagnosed as tuberculosis, and 37 (35.9%) were misdiagnosed as lung tumors before pathological findings. Metagenomic next­generation sequencing (mNGS) testing provided a rapid diagnostic and therapeutic basis for three patients. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical features and imaging findings of pulmonary histoplasmosis are not specific. Relevant epidemiological history and timely pathogen detection are important for diagnosis. mNGS can shorten the time required for diagnosis and allow earlier initiation of targeted antibiotic therapy.

Hormographiella aspergillata pulmonary infections: Detection and identification of the fungus using pan-fungal PCR assays and DNA sequencing.

Hormographiella aspergillata is a basidiomycete exceptionally involved in invasive fungal infections (IFI). We report a case of H. aspergillata pulmonary infection in a 30-year-old female in a context of pancytopenia and relapsed of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). She presented with fever, thoracic pain, left pleural effusion and pneumonia, diagnosed on chest X-ray and CT-scan. Direct examination of a bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) specimen performed on day (d) 10 was negative, while the culture was positive on d30. H. aspergillata was suspected, considering macroscopic and microscopic examination. Its identification was confirmed using Microflex® Bruker mass spectrometry and pan-fungal (PF)-PCR assay followed by DNA sequencing. After this initial diagnosis, the patient was monitored for 2.8 years. She was treated with liposomal amphotericin B and/or voriconazole until switching to isavuconazole on d298 due to side-effects. This antifungal treatment was maintained until d717 and then discontinued, the patient being considered as cured. Over this follow-up period, the patient was submitted to recurrent pulmonary sampling. Each time, cultures were negative, while PF - PCR assays and DNA sequencing confirmed the presence of H. aspergillata. The present case-report is the 32nd observation of H. aspergillata invasive infection showing that this IFI is still infrequent. Fifteen have occurred in patients with AML, which appears as the most frequent underlying disease favoring this IFI. Six recent case-reports in addition to ours highlight PF-PCR assays and DNA sequencing as relevant diagnostic tools that must be included in routine diagnosis and monitoring of IFI, specifically those due to rare basidiomycetes.

Pulmonary Histoplasmosis in People Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus in French Guiana: Clinical Epidemiology, Medical Imaging and Prognostic.

BACKGROUND: Histoplasmosis is mainly described as a disseminated disease in people living with HIV (PLHIV). Compared to historical descriptions in immunocompetent individuals, knowledge is lacking on the detailed clinical and radiological findings and outcomes of pulmonary histoplasmosis (PH). Overlooked or misdiagnosed with other AIDS-defining condition, prognostic of PLHIV may be at risk because of inappropriate care. METHODS: A retrospective multicentric study was conducted in PLHIV from French Guiana between January 1988 and October 2019. Proven PH were documented through mycological direct examination, culture, or histology. Patients with concomitant respiratory infections were excluded. RESULTS: Among 65 patients, sex ratio M:F was 2.4 with a median age of 39 years [IQR 25-75%: 34-44]. Median CD4 count was 24 cells/mm3 [11-71], with histoplasmosis as the AIDS-defining condition in 88% and concomitant AIDS-defining conditions in 29%. Clinical findings were fever (89%), cough (58%), dyspnea (35%), expectoration (14%), and hemoptysis (5%). Sixty-one X-rays and 24 CT-scans were performed. On X-rays, an interstitial lung disease was mainly found (77%). On CT-scans, a nodular pattern was predominant (83%): mostly miliary disease (63%), but also excavated nodules (35%). Consolidations were present in 46%, associated with miliary disease in 21%. Thoracic lymphadenopathies were found in 58%, mainly hilar and symmetric (33%). Despite antifungal treatment, case-fatality rate at one month was 22%. CONCLUSION: When faced with an interstitial lung disease on X-rays or a miliary pattern on CT-scans in advanced PLHIV, physicians in endemic areas, apart from tuberculosis or pneumocystosis, should include histoplasmosis as part of their differential diagnoses.

Ethanolic Extract Propolis-Loaded Niosomes Diminish Phospholipase B1, Biofilm Formation, and Intracellular Replication of Cryptococcus neoformans in Macrophages.

Secretory phospholipase B1 (PLB1) and biofilms act as microbial virulence factors and play an important role in pulmonary cryptococcosis. This study aims to formulate the ethanolic extract of propolis-loaded niosomes (Nio-EEP) and evaluate the biological activities occurring during PLB1 production and biofilm formation of Cryptococcus neoformans. Some physicochemical characterizations of niosomes include a mean diameter of 270 nm in a spherical shape, a zeta-potential of -10.54 ± 1.37 mV, and 88.13 ± 0.01% entrapment efficiency. Nio-EEP can release EEP in a sustained manner and retains consistent physicochemical properties for a month. Nio-EEP has the capability to permeate the cellular membranes of C. neoformans, causing a significant decrease in the mRNA expression level of PLB1. Interestingly, biofilm formation, biofilm thickness, and the expression level of biofilm-related genes (UGD1 and UXS1) were also significantly reduced. Pre-treating with Nio-EEP prior to yeast infection reduced the intracellular replication of C. neoformans in alveolar macrophages by 47%. In conclusion, Nio-EEP mediates as an anti-virulence agent to inhibit PLB1 and biofilm production for preventing fungal colonization on lung epithelial cells and also decreases the intracellular replication of phagocytosed cryptococci. This nano-based EEP delivery might be a potential therapeutic strategy in the prophylaxis and treatment of pulmonary cryptococcosis in the future.

Radiology-based diagnosis of fungal pulmonary infections in high-risk hematology patients: are we making progress?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: In patients with hematological malignancies, high-resolution computed tomography (CT) is the recommended imaging approach for diagnosis, staging and monitoring of invasive fungal disease (IFD) but lacks specificity. We examined the status of current imaging modalities for IFD and possibilities for more effective applications of current technology for improving the specificity of IFD diagnosis. RECENT FINDINGS: Although CT imaging recommendations for IFD are largely unchanged in the last 20 years, improvements in CT scanner technology and image processing algorithms now allow for technically adequate examinations at much lower radiation doses. CT pulmonary angiography can improve both the sensitivity and specificity of CT imaging for angioinvasive molds in both neutropenic and nonneutropenic patients, through detection of the vessel occlusion sign (VOS). MRI-based approaches also show promise not only for early detection of small nodules and alveolar hemorrhage but can also be used to detect pulmonary vascular occlusion without radiation and iodinated contrast media. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) is increasingly used to monitor long-term treatment response for IFD, but could become a more powerful diagnostic tool with the development of fungal-specific antibody imaging tracers. SUMMARY: High-risk hematology patients have a considerable medical need for more sensitive and specific imaging approaches for IFD. This need may be addressable, in part, by better exploiting recent progress in CT/MRI imaging technology and algorithms to improve the specificity of radiological diagnosis for IFD.

Improving Diagnosis of Pulmonary Mucormycosis: Leads From a Contemporary National Study of 114 Cases.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary mucormycosis (PM) is a life-threatening invasive mold infection. Diagnosis of mucormycosis is challenging and often delayed, resulting in higher mortality. RESEARCH QUESTION: Are the disease presentation of PM and contribution of diagnosis tools influenced by the patient's underlying condition? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: All PM cases from six French teaching hospitals between 2008 and 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Cases were defined according to updated European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Mycoses Study Group criteria with the addition of diabetes and trauma as host factors and positive serum or tissue PCR as mycologic evidence. Thoracic CT scans were reviewed centrally. RESULTS: A total of 114 cases of PM were recorded, including 40% with disseminated forms. Main underlying conditions were hematologic malignancy (49%), allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (21%), and solid organ transplantation (17%). When disseminated, main dissemination sites were the liver (48%), spleen (48%), brain (44%), and kidneys (37%). Radiologic presentation included consolidation (58%), pleural effusion (52%), reversed halo sign (26%), halo sign (24%), vascular abnormalities (26%), and cavity (23%). Serum quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was positive in 42 (79%) of 53 patients and BAL in 46 (50%) of 96 patients. Results of transthoracic lung biopsy were diagnostic in 8 (73%) of 11 patients with noncontributive BAL. Overall 90-day mortality was 59%. Patients with neutropenia more frequently displayed an angioinvasive presentation, including reversed halo sign and disseminated disease (P < .05). Serum qPCR was more contributive in patients with neutropenia (91% vs 62%; P = .02), and BAL was more contributive in patients without neutropenia (69% vs 41%; P = .02). Serum qPCR was more frequently positive in patients with a > 3 cm main lesion (91% vs 62%; P = .02). Overall, positive qPCR was associated with an early diagnosis (P = .03) and treatment onset (P = .01). INTERPRETATION: Neutropenia and radiologic findings influence disease presentation and contribution of diagnostic tools during PM. Serum qPCR is more contributive in patients with neutropenia and BAL examination in patients without neutropenia. Results of lung biopsies are highly contributive in cases of noncontributive BAL.

Breakthrough Invasive Sinusitis by Hormographiella aspergillata in a Neutropenic Patient Receiving Voriconazole Therapy: A Case Report and Review of Breakthrough H. aspergillata Infections.

Breakthrough invasive infections occurs during the use of antifungals both in prophylaxis and therapy, it favors the emergence of new pathogens in the fungal landscape. Hormographiella aspergillata is considered a rare but emerging pathogen in the era of broad-spectrum antifungal use in patients with hematological malignancies. Here, we present a case report of invasive sinusitis due to Hormographiella aspergillata, manifesting as a breakthrough infection in a patient with severe aplastic anemia under treatment with voriconazole for invasive pulmonary aspergilosis. Also, we make a review of H. aspergillata breakthrough infections published in the literature.

The first suspected disseminated Hormographiella aspergillata infection in China, diagnosed using metagenomic next-generation sequencing: a case report and literature review.

Hormographiella aspergillata is a rare and emerging cause of invasive mould infections in patients with haematological malignancies, with a mortality rate of approximately 70%. Here, we present the first reported case of suspected disseminated H. aspergillata infection in China. The patient experienced a second relapse of acute myeloid leukaemia and developed neutropenia, fever, discrepant blood pressure between limbs, and cutaneous lesions limited to the left upper extremity. Since lung tissue biopsy was not feasible, metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) and panfungal polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and blood samples were performed, which indicated probable H. aspergillata pulmonary infection. Histopathology of cutaneous lesions revealed numerous fungal hyphae within dermal blood vessels. mNGS of a skin biopsy sample identified H. aspergillata sequences, and the fungi was subsequently recovered from fungal culture, proving cutaneous H. aspergillata infection. Despite combined antifungal therapy, the patient died owing to disease progression. Additionally, 22 previously reported cases of invasive H. aspergillata infection were reviewed in patients with haematological malignancies. Thus, mNGS is a powerful diagnostic tool for the early and effective detection of invasive H. aspergillata infections, with the advantage of sequencing all potential pathogens, and providing results within 24 h.

Pulmonary infection of Schizophyllum commune diagnosed by metagenomic next- generation sequencing: A case report.

RATIONALE: Fungal infection is common and difficult to be diagnosed timely in clinical, for its various kinds and similar manifestations. The rare pulmonary fungal infection such as Schizophyllum commune was one of the harder ones and misdiagnosed in usual. PATIENT CONCERNS: We report a 32-year-old female which was diagnosed with Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing (mNGS). She was hospitalized with the complaint of 4 months and more of repeated cough and expectorating. The chest computer tomography revealed left lower lobe pathological changes, but antibiotics were ineffective. No positive results were found in laboratory tests, including sputum culture and the pathology of lung puncture biopsy. DIAGNOSES: mNGS of lung biopsy was performed and detected the sequence number of Schizophyllum for 11. INTERVENTIONS: The patient was treated with voriconazole and itraconazole successively. OUTCOMES: She recovered to health. There was no recurrence during follow-up. LESSONS: mNGS as a diagnostic method could quickly detect pathogens through the processing of fragment, synthesis, comparison, and analysis of sample genes. It is suitable for detecting especially rare and polymicrobial infections. To our best knowledge, infection of Schizophyllum commune have not been reported in English literature with diagnostic method of mNGS.

[Echinococcosis Detected by a Solitary Shadow in the Lung].

Here we report a rare case of pulmonary coin lesion due to echinococcosis. An woman in her 60s who has no symptom was found a nodular shadow of the left lung incidentally. Since the nodule was enlarging, surgical treatment was done. Pathologically, it was diagnosed as an echinococcosis of the lung. It was pulmonary solitary echinococcosis without any lesion in other organs.

Sequential low-dose CT thorax scans to determine invasive pulmonary fungal infection incidence after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation.

Invasive fungal disease (IFD) during neutropenia goes along with a high mortality for patients after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT). Low-dose computed tomography (CT) thorax shows good sensitivity for the diagnosis of IFD with low radiation exposure. The aim of our study was to evaluate sequential CT thorax scans at two time points as a new reliable method to detect IFD during neutropenia after alloHCT. We performed a retrospective single-center observational study in 265/354 screened patients admitted for alloHCT from June 2015 to August 2019. All were examined by a low-dose CT thorax scan at admission (CT t0) and after stable neutrophil recovery (CT t1) to determine the incidences of IFD. Furthermore, antifungal prophylaxis medications were recorded and cohorts were analyzed for statistical differences in IFD incidence using the sequential CT scans. In addition, IFD cases were classified according to EORTC 2008. At CT t0 in 9.6% of the patients, an IFD was detected and antifungal therapy initiated. The cumulative incidence of IFD in CT t1 in our department was 14%. The use of Aspergillus-effective prophylaxis through voriconazole or posaconazole decreased CT thorax t1 suggesting IFD is statistically significant compared to prophylaxis with fluconazole (5.6% asp-azol group vs 16.3% fluconazole group, p = 0.048). In 86%, CT t1 was negative for IFD. Low-dose sequential CT thorax scans are a valuable tool to detect pulmonary IFDs and guide antifungal prophylaxis and therapies. Furthermore, a negative CT t1 scan shows a benefit by allowing discontinuation of antifungal medication sparing patients from drug interactions and side effects.

Application of metagenomic next-generation sequencing in the diagnosis of pulmonary invasive fungal disease.

Background: Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) is increasingly being used to detect pathogens directly from clinical specimens. However, the optimal application of mNGS and subsequent result interpretation can be challenging. In addition, studies reporting the use of mNGS for the diagnosis of invasive fungal infections (IFIs) are rare. Objective: We critically evaluated the performance of mNGS in the diagnosis of pulmonary IFIs, by conducting a multicenter retrospective analysis. The methodological strengths of mNGS were recognized, and diagnostic cutoffs were determined. Methods: A total of 310 patients with suspected pulmonary IFIs were included in this study. Conventional microbiological tests (CMTs) and mNGS were performed in parallel on the same set of samples. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the performance of the logarithm of reads per kilobase per million mapped reads [lg(RPKM)], and read counts were used to predict true-positive pathogens. Result: The majority of the selected patients (86.5%) were immunocompromised. Twenty species of fungi were detected by mNGS, which was more than was achieved with standard culture methods. Peripheral blood lymphocyte and monocyte counts, as well as serum albumin levels, were significantly negatively correlated with fungal infection. In contrast, C-reactive protein and procalcitonin levels showed a significant positive correlation with fungal infection. ROC curves showed that mNGS [and especially lg(RPKM)] was superior to CMTs in its diagnostic performance. The area under the ROC curve value obtained for lg(RPKM) in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of patients with suspected pulmonary IFIs, used to predict true-positive pathogens, was 0.967, and the cutoff value calculated from the Youden index was -5.44. Conclusions: In this study, we have evaluated the performance of mNGS-specific indicators that can identify pathogens in patients with IFIs more accurately and rapidly than CMTs, which will have important clinical implications.

Progress and challenges in fungal lung disease in cystic fibrosis.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review is an overview of the recent progress made for the diagnosis and understanding of fungal lung disease in people with cystic fibrosis (CF), with a focus on Aspergillus fumigatus , the most common filamentous fungus in the CF airway. Currently, the longstanding question of the clinical significance of Aspergillus fumigatus and other fungi in CF respiratory cultures, in the absence of allergy, remains. Clinical criteria and biomarkers are needed to classify fungal lung disease and determine who may warrant therapy. RECENT FINDINGS: Several retrospective and prospective studies have described the prevalence of A. fumigatus and other fungi in the CF lung and factors contributing to the changes in fungal epidemiology. Selective fungus culture testing for the detection of fungi in CF sputa has been well studied, yet a standardized fungus culture protocol has yet to be defined. Culture-independent molecular studies and other fungal diagnostic testing have been conducted in the CF population, leading to efforts to better understand the clinical role of these tests. Recent works have aimed to determine whether chronic A. fumigatus colonization is associated with lung disease progression measured by FEV 1 percentage predicted, structural lung disease, lung clearance index and respiratory quality-of-life. However, the existing knowledge gaps remain: definition of a fungal respiratory infection, the association between fungal infection and clinical outcomes, and indications for antifungal therapy. SUMMARY: Significant progress has been made for the detection and diagnosis of fungal lung disease. Yet, the role and impact of A. fumigatus and other fungal infections on respiratory health in people with CF remains to be determined.

Clinical Diagnosis, Treatment, and Laboratory Detection of 50 Cases of Pulmonary Cryptococcosis.

Objective: This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical diagnosis, treatment process, and laboratory test data of patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis to improve the understanding and diagnosis and treatment ability of the disease. Methods: Patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis diagnosed in the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University from October 2003 to July 2021 were selected, and their medical records were consulted. The general data, clinical manifestations, laboratory examinations, imaging characteristics, diagnosis, and treatment methods were studied. The software SPSS 22 was used for statistical analysis. Results: A total of 50 patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis were included in the study. The ratio of male to female was 1 : 1. The average age was 53.56 ± 11.99 years with a range of 27-82 years. Grouping the patients by age, with 10 years as an age group, we found that 40-60 years was the high-incidence age group. Two patients (4%) had a history of bird contact, and 18 patients (36%) had at least one underlying conditions. Hypertension and cough were the most common underlying condition and clinical manifestation, respectively. The main admission diagnoses were lung shadow (19/50, 38%) and chest/lung mass (15/50, 30%). In the imaging findings, the most common type of lesions was nodule/nodule shadow (29/69, 42.03%). Lesion distribution in the lower lobe, single lobe, and right lung was more frequent than that in the upper lobe, multilobes, and left lung, respectively. Burr sign (12/43, 27.91%) was the most common concomitant sign. Pulmonary ventilatory defect was found in 7 cases. Laboratory test results were largely nonspecific. The pathological examination showed granuloma, with 47 cases (94%) confirmed by postoperative biopsy. Two cases (4%) were confirmed by serology. One case (2%) was diagnosed with Cryptococcus smear. 43 cases (86%) were treated with simple surgical resection, 6 cases (12%) were treated with antifungal drugs, and 1 case (2%) was transferred to another hospital for suspicion of pulmonary tuberculosis. Conclusions: Pulmonary cryptococcosis is more common in the middle-aged and elderly, and the clinical specificity is low. It can occur in people with normal or impaired immune function. The main clinical and imaging manifestation is cough and pulmonary nodules, which are very easy 5to be misdiagnosed. Surgical resection is the primary treatment.