Compilation of regulations and procedures for monitoring filamentous fungi in hospital environments.

Air and surfaces in the hospital environment are a potential source of exposure to filamentous fungi (FF) that could cause invasive fungal diseases (IFD) in severely immunocompromised patients. The prevalent FF in IFD are species from the genera Aspergillus, Fusarium, Scedosporium, and those within the order Mucorales. We have compiled regulations and described the procedures used in the clinical mycology laboratory to assess the presence of FF in areas at risk for the development of IFD. The infection control committees of each establishment implement hospital policies to regulate and control processes aimed at preventing infections. Fungal load monitoring is an important step in this process to validate air quality in order to ensure a clean and protected environment for severely immunocompromised patients.

[Usefulness of the Sensititre YeastOne® panel to detect Candida species resistant to antifungal drugs]. / Utilidad del panel Sensititre YeastOne® para detectar especies de Candida resistentes a los antifúngicos.

We evaluated the interlaboratory agreement, the essential agreement, and the categorical agreement between the Sensititre YeastOneTM panel and the reference methods M27 4th Edition of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI), and the EDef 7.3.1 of the European Committee on Antifungal Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST). We studied 67 Candida strains isolated from different clinical samples and 9 Candida strains with resistance to fluconazole and echinocandins. The highest percentage of interlaboratory agreement was observed with amphotericin B (96.8%), and the lowest percentage with voriconazole (77.2%). Caspofungin showed 5.8% of very major errors when compared with the CLSI reference method. For EUCAST, itraconazole, posaconazole, and anidulafungin showed high percentages of major errors: 17.6%, 18.1%, and 19.6%, respectively. Sensititre YeastOneTM is a reliable alternative, and easy to perform for detecting Candida species resistant to antifungal drugs, with some limitations for echinocandins. Results are comparable to those of the reference methods.

Utilidad del panel Sensititre YeastOne® para detectar especies de Candida resistentes a los antifúngicos / Usefulness of the Sensititre YeastOne® panel to detect Candida species resistant to antifungal drugs

Resumen Evaluamos las concordancias interlaboratorio, esencial y categórica entre el panel Sensititre YeastOne™ y los métodos de referencia correspondientes al M27 4.a ed. (Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute [CLSI]) y al EDef 7.3.1 (European Committee on Antifungal Susceptibility Testing [EUCAST]). Estudiamos 67 cepas de Candida de distintas muestras clí nicas y un panel de 9 cepas resistentes a fluconazol y equinocandinas. El mayor porcentaje de concordancia interlaboratorio se observó con anfotericina B (96,8%) y el menor porcen taje con voriconazol (77,2%). La caspofungina mostró un 5,8% de discrepancias muy mayores con el método de referencia del CLSI. Con el del EUCAST, el itraconazol, el posaconazol y la anidulafungina mostraron porcentajes de discrepancias mayores: el 17,6, el 18,1 y el 19,6%, respectivamente. El panel Sensititre YeastOne™ es una alternativa confiable y fácil de usar, que permite detectar especies de Candida resistentes a los antifúngicos, con algunas limitaciones para las equinocandinas. Los resultados son equiparables a los de los métodos de referencia.

Abstract We evaluated the interlaboratory agreement, the essential agreement, and the cate- gorical agreement between the Sensititre YeastOne™ panel and the reference methods M27 4th Edition of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI), and the EDef 7.3.1 of the Euro- pean Committee on Antifungal Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST). We studied 67 Candida strains isolated from different clinical samples and 9 Candida strains with resistance to fluconazole and echinocandins. The highest percentage of interlaboratory agreement was observed with amp- hotericin B (96.8%), and the lowest percentage with voriconazole (77.2%). Caspofungin showed 5.8% of very major errors when compared with the CLSI reference method. For EUCAST, itraconazole, posaconazole, and anidulafungin showed high percentages of major errors: 17.6%, 18.1%, and 19.6%, respectively. Sensititre YeastOne™ is a reliable alternative, and easy to perform for detecting Candida species resistant to antifungal drugs, with some limitations for echinocandins. Results are comparable to those of the reference methods.

Belatacept and mediastinal histoplasmosis in a kidney transplant patient.

BACKGROUND: In transplantation immunosuppression enhances the appearance of opportunist infections. An ideal balance between the prevention of rejection, the lowest risk of infections and the highest rates of graft survival is a continuous challenge. Lower doses of immunosuppression may diminish the risk of infections, metabolic and hemodynamic complications or even of malignancy, but may expose patients to episodes of acute rejection. New drugs are being developed to improve graft survival at the lowest risk of side effects. Belatacept has recently been introduced in kidney transplantation to inhibit the co-ligand signal of T cell stimulation. It is a drug with a safe profile, is well-tolerated and appears to improve long-term survival of kidney grafts. However, there may be an increase in opportunistic infections which may be facilitated by T cell depression, as Aspergillus sp., Cryptococcus neoformans or tuberculosis. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe a 59-year-old female who developed fever, clinical wasting and a mediastinal mass 31 months after receiving a living non-related kidney transplant while on belatacept therapy. A mediastinal node biopsy disclosed the presence of Histoplasma capsulatum. Infection successfully resolved after appropriate antifungal treatment. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of Histoplasma capsulatum in a kidney transplanted patient on belatacept therapy.

[Onychomycosis: multicentre epidemiological, clinical and mycological study]. / Onicomicosis: estudio multicéntrico clínico, epidemiológico y micológico.

BACKGROUND: Onychomycosis accounts for up to 50% of all nail disorders. They can be caused by: yeasts, dermatophytes and non-dermatophyte moulds. OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: A multicentre study designed to determine the prevalence, mycological test results, aetiological agents, and clinical presentation of onychomycosis was carried out. All fingernail and toenail samples taken during a one year period at 9 diagnostic centres were included. RESULTS: A total of 5,961 samples were analysed, of which 82.3% were from toenails and 17.7% from fingernails. The mean age of the patients was 49.7 years, and 66% were females. Direct microscopic examination was positive in 61% of the samples. In adults, 61.2% of toenails were positive using potassium hydroxide (KOH), and 43.7% were positive in cultures. The prevailing aetiological agents belong to the dermatophyte group (82.8%), and distal subungual was the most common clinical form. In fingernails, direct examination showed 59.8% positive samples, and cultures were positive in 52.9%. The prevailing agents were yeasts belonging to Candida species, and onycholysis was the most common lesion. CONCLUSIONS: Direct mycological examinations were positive in 61%, a higher value than that found in other series. Dermatophytes were prevalent in toenails of both sexes, and in finger nails yeast were prevalent in females, and dermatophytes in males. Non-dermatophyte moulds corresponded to 4.8% of toenail and 2.05% of fingernails isolates.

Esporotricosis cutánea fija / Fixed cutaneous sporotrichosis

La esporotricosis es una micosis de evolución crónica producida por el Sporothrixschenkii. La intensidad del compromiso cutáneo y/o sistémico, como así también su evolución, dependerán de la respuesta inmune del huésped y de la cantidad y calidad del inóculo. La esporotricosis cutánea fija es una forma clínica de reinfección, que se expresa en el lugar de la inoculación como una pápula eritematosa, que posteriormente se ulcera o adquiere aspecto verrugoso o psoriasiforme. El diagnóstico surge de la sospecha clínica, la epidemiología y la biopsi acutánea. El estudio histopatológico puede demostrar la presencia tisular del microorganismo o, más frecuentemente, los llamados cuerpos asteroides. Se documenta un paciente con la variedad fija de esporotricosis cutánea ulcerada en dorso, producto de la reinfección por el Sporothrix schenkii. La expresión de esta forma clínica está vinculada a la inmunidad desarrollada ante la primera infección, que ocurrió seis años antes en su brazo...

Sporotrichosis is a mycoses produced by Sporothrix schenckii and characterizedby a chronic course. The evolution and severity of this entity dependson the host´s immune response and the quantity and quality of the inoculate.Fixed cutaneous sporotrichosis is an expression of re-infection. It begins likean erythematous papule at the inoculation site, that may later either ulcerateor turn into a psoriasiform or warty plaque. Diagnosis can be made basedon the clinical aspect of the lesion, the epidemiology and biopsy. The histopathologicalstudy can reveal the presence of the fungus or more frequentlyasteroid bodies. We report a patient with a cutaneous fixed ulcerated sporotrichosison his back, due to re-infection by Sporothrix schenckii. The clinicalexpression of this variety is related to the immunity generated in a previousinfection in his arm that occurred 6 years before...

Onicomicosis: estudio multicéntrico clínico, epidemiológico y micológico / Onychomycosis: multicentre epidemiological, clinical and mycological study

Antecedentes. Las onicomicosis representan aproximadamente el 50% de las onicopatías, pueden ser causadas por dermatofitos, levaduras u hongos filamentosos no dermatofitos. Objetivos y metodología. Se realizó un estudio multicéntrico para conocer la prevalencia de onicomicosis, los agentes causales y las formas clínicas más frecuentes. Se evaluaron todas las muestras de uñas de manos y pies durante el período de un año en 9 centros asistenciales. Resultados. Se procesaron 5.961 muestras, el 82,3% correspondieron a uñas de pies y el 17,7% a uñas de manos. La edad promedio de los pacientes fue 49,7 años y el 66% perteneció al sexo femenino. Los exámenes directos fueron positivos en el 61% de los casos. En adultos, las uñas de los pies presentaron un 61,2% de resultados positivos en el examen directo, y los cultivos fueron positivos en un 43,7%. Los hongos predominantes fueron los dermatofitos (82,8%) y la forma clínica más frecuente fue la distal subungueal. En uñas de manos la positividad del examen directo fue del 59,8% y los cultivos fueron positivos en un 52,9%; los hongos predominantes fueron de tipo levaduriforme y la forma clínica más frecuente fue la onicolisis. Conclusiones. Se encontró un 61% de positividad en el examen directo, valor superior al de otras investigaciones. En las uñas de los pies prevalecieron los dermatofitos en ambos sexos, y en uñas de manos las levaduras, en el sexo femenino, y dermatofitos, en el masculino. El 4,8% de los aislamientos de uñas de pies y el 2,05% de los de uñas de manos fueron de hongos filamentosos no dermatofíticos(AU)

Background. Onychomycosis accounts for up to 50% of all nail disorders. They can be caused by: yeasts, dermatophytes and non-dermatophyte moulds. Objectives and methods. A multicentre study designed to determine the prevalence, mycological test results, aetiological agents, and clinical presentation of onychomycosis was carried out. All fingernail and toenail samples taken during a one year period at 9 diagnostic centres were included. Results. A total of 5,961 samples were analysed, of which 82.3% were from toenails and 17.7% from fingernails. The mean age of the patients was 49.7 years, and 66% were females. Direct microscopic examination was positive in 61% of the samples. In adults, 61.2% of toenails were positive using potassium hydroxide (KOH), and 43.7% were positive in cultures. The prevailing aetiological agents belong to the dermatophyte group (82.8%), and distal subungual was the most common clinical form. In fingernails, direct examination showed 59.8% positive samples, and cultures were positive in 52.9%. The prevailing agents were yeasts belonging to Candida species, and onycholysis was the most common lesion. Conclusions. Direct mycological examinations were positive in 61%, a higher value than that found in other series. Dermatophytes were prevalent in toenails of both sexes, and in finger nails yeast were prevalent in females, and dermatophytes in males. Non-dermatophyte moulds corresponded to 4.8% of toenail and 2.05% of fingernails isolates(AU)