Current Medical Mycology最新文献

{"title":"Molecular epidemiology of clinically relevant single and mixed species in a Malaysian tertiary care hospital.","authors":"Humaira Farooq, Gokul Shankar Sabesan, Tahmina Monowar, Suresh V Chinni, Noor Hasliza Zainol, SweSwe Latt, Rajesh Pk","doi":"10.18502/cmm.2023.345062.1432","DOIUrl":"10.18502/cmm.2023.345062.1432","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and purpose: </strong>The increasing rate of opportunistic infections caused by <i>Candida</i> and other yeasts is becoming a major health concern worldwide. However, systematic data on the epidemiology and the yeast species infections in Malaysia is still limited. In this regard, the present research aimed to identify pathogenic yeasts utilizing an economically practical and easily available molecular technique and evaluate the prevalence of pathogenic yeasts in a Malaysian tertiary care hospital.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Yeast isolates were collected from Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital, Kedah, Malaysia, from October 2020 to October 2021. Molecular identification of the isolates was performed by one enzyme-based polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong><i>Candida albicans</i> was the most prevalent species, accounting for 120 isolates (59%) in total. The most prevalent non-<i>albicans Candida</i> species were <i>C. tropicalis</i> (n=33, 16%), <i>C. krusei</i> (Pichia kudriavzevii) (n=12, 5.8%), <i>C. glabrata</i> (n=12, 5.8%), and <i>C. parapsilosis</i> (n=6, 3%). Other unusual <i>Candida</i> species were <i>C. guilliermondii</i> (2), <i>C. metapsilosis</i> (2), <i>C. orthopsilosis</i> (1), <i>C. lusitaniae</i> (1), <i>C. rugosa</i> (1), <i>C. haemulonii</i> (1), <i>C. bracarensis</i> (1), and <i>C. dubliniensis</i> (1). Moreover, <i>Talaromyces marneffei</i> (1), <i>Kodamaea ohmeri</i> (1), <i>Cryptococcus neoformans</i> (3), and <i>Cryptococcus laurentii</i> (1) were among the other yeasts identified.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The Molecular technique used in this study identified 96% of isolates, including mixed species. According to the findings, the most prevalent species are <i>C. albicans</i>, <i>C. tropicalis</i>, <i>C. krusei</i>, and <i>C. glabrata</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":10863,"journal":{"name":"Current Medical Mycology","volume":"9 2","pages":"23-28"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10874483/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139905278","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Vitamin D₃: A promising antifungal and antibiofilm agent against <i>Candida</i> species.","authors":"Zahra Kherad, Somayeh Yazdanpanah, Farshid Saadat, Keyvan Pakshir, Kamiar Zomorodian","doi":"10.18502/cmm.2023.345062.1416","DOIUrl":"10.18502/cmm.2023.345062.1416","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and purpose: </strong><i>Candida</i> species are opportunistic fungal pathogens that cause mild to life-threatening infections in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised populations. The increasing prevalence of drug-resistant <i>Candida</i> species has posed a significant challenge to the management of infections in clinical settings. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the direct antifungal and antibiofilm effect of vitamin D₃ against <i>Candida</i> species.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>The antifungal activity of vitamin D₃ was evaluated by broth microdilution method based on the Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute. Prevention of biofilm formation by <i>Candida albicans</i> was measured using the XTT assay following exposure to different concentrations of vitamin D₃. Moreover, expression of <i>Agglutinin-like sequence</i> gene 1 (<i>ALS</i>1), <i>hyphal wall protein</i> gene (<i>HWP</i>1), <i>secreted aspartyl proteinase</i> 6 gene (<i>SAP</i>6), and <i>morphogenesis pathway regulatory</i> gene (<i>EFG</i>1) were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction using the comparative Ct method (ΔΔ Ct) after exposure to vitamin D₃.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Vitamin D₃ showed antifungal activity against <i>Candida</i> species ranging from 1-128 μg/mL. Furthermore, vitamin D₃ inhibited biofilm formation in a dose-dependent manner, with IC50 of 7.5 μg/mL. Treatment with vitamin D₃ resulted in significant upregulation of the <i>EFG</i>1, <i>ALS</i>1, and <i>SAP</i>6 genes under hypha-inducing conditions to overcome environmental challenges.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Results of the current study demonstrated that vitamin D₃ has a significant inhibitory effect on <i>Candida</i> growth and biofilm formation. Considering its demonstrated antifungal and antibiofilm properties, vitamin D₃ holds promise as a potential agent for medical applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":10863,"journal":{"name":"Current Medical Mycology","volume":"9 2","pages":"17-22"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10874479/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139905281","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparison of acidifying agents and clotrimazole for treatment of otomycosis: a comprehensive one-way mini-review.","authors":"Zeynab Yassin, Behrooz Amirzargar, Reza Ghasemi, Farnaz Valizadeh, Mahsa Fattahi","doi":"10.18502/cmm.2023.345035.1402","DOIUrl":"10.18502/cmm.2023.345035.1402","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and purpose: </strong>This review aimed to compare the efficacy of acidifying agents and clotrimazole in the treatment of patients with otomycosis.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>The databases, including Research Gate, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Embase, Medline, Scopus, Cochrane, and library databases of clinical trials were searched in this study. The keywords were \"Fungal Ear Infection\" and \"Otitis External\" for otomycosis, \"Clotrimazole\", Lotrimin\", \"Mycelex\", \"Desenex\", and \"Clotrimaderm Mycoderm\" for clotrimazole, and \"Boric Acid Alcohol\", \"Alcohol-vinegar solution\", Burow solution (Domeboro), \"Isopropyl Alcohol\", \"VoSol\" and \"Acetic Acid\" for acidifying agents. Regarding search strategy, a total of 53 studies were collected, 11 of which were maintained for assessment. Almost all studies were published after 1990. These articles discussed the role of clotrimazole and acidifying compounds in the treatment of otomycosis. Moreover, the route of administration, dosage, and side effects of these medications were highlighted.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Eight studies had similar results and claimed that clotrimazole has the best or most significant effect on the treatment of otomycosis for patients suffering from pain, itching, swelling, and hearing loss.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Although all medications appear effective, there is a paucity of evidence to fully support the decision to choose between clotrimazole or acidifying agents for the treatment of otomycosis in terms of both efficacy and safety. However, in the biomedical field, the re-emerging investigation attention is due to the statements of a number of mechanisms defending the use of acidifying agents to treat mycosis (of antifungal-resistant species).</p>","PeriodicalId":10863,"journal":{"name":"Current Medical Mycology","volume":"9 2","pages":"45-51"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10874481/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139905275","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Molecular identification and antifungal susceptibility profiles of etiologic agents of oral candidiasis among HIV-positive patients: A multicenter study.","authors":"Hamid Morovati, Malihe Jokari, Saba Eslami, Kamiar Zomorodian, Katayoun Taeri, Nesa Khalaf, Hossein Khodadadi","doi":"10.18502/CMM.2023.345058.1414","DOIUrl":"10.18502/CMM.2023.345058.1414","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and purpose: </strong>Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a serious risk factor for oral candidiasis (OC). In this regard, the present study aimed to investigate the frequency of <i>Candida</i> species collected from the oropharyngeal cavity of HIV-positive patients and the sensitivity of these isolates to antifungal drugs.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Oral samples were collected from 169 HIV-positive patients. In addition to culture-based methods, a molecular assay via the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method was applied to identify isolates using the <i>MspI</i> restriction enzyme. The disk diffusion method determined the susceptibility of isolated yeasts to common antifungal drugs according to the CLSI M44-A2 protocol.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In total, 81 participants (47.92%) were positive for OC, and <i>Candida albicans</i> was the most prevalent yeast (53.98%). The median age of patients was 36 years old (IQR=10.5; 17-59), and it was found that women are 27% more susceptible to HIV-associated OC (OR=1.268; 95% CI: 0.685-2.348). Patients who received antifungal therapy had a 97.3% reduced chance for OC (OR: 0.027; 95% CI: 0.008-0.091; <i>P-value</i>: 0.000). Antifungal therapy reduced the risk of OC by 97.3% (OR=0.027; 95% CI=0.008-0.091; <i>P</i>=0.000), and antiretroviral therapy decreased the chance of OC 4.42 times (OR=4.423; 95% CI=1.697-11.528; <i>P</i>=0.002). The resistance rates for antifungals, namely fluconazole, ketoconazole, itraconazole, amphotericin B, and nystatin were 15.93%, 8.85%, 7.96%, 5.31%, and 4.42%, respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Although several decades have passed since the emergence of HIV/AIDS, little information is available about fungal colonization and infections in this population. Further investigations are suggested using novel and reference molecular identification methods, such as matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and sequencing, respectively. In addition, more reliable methods for antifungal susceptibility testing are recommended.</p>","PeriodicalId":10863,"journal":{"name":"Current Medical Mycology","volume":"9 2","pages":"10-16"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10874477/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139905279","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Updates on Tinea Incognita: Literature review.","authors":"Aliasghar Ghaderi, Pegah Tamimi, Alireza Firooz, Maryam Fattahi, Mona Ghazanfari, Mahsa Fattahi","doi":"10.22034/cmm.2023.345069.1425","DOIUrl":"10.22034/cmm.2023.345069.1425","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and purpose: </strong>Tinea incognita (TI), or the other equivalent tinea atypica, is a term used to declare the atypical presentation of dermatophyte infections caused by the administration of steroids or other immunosuppressive medications which modulate the local and systemic immune response. It can mimic other dermatoses; hence making diagnostic challenges for dermatologists. Tina incognita may be misdiagnosed as many dermatoses. Based on previous studies, corticosteroids may cause different clinical manifestations of dermatophytes that might be very different from those that are commonly described.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>This narrative review was conducted using PubMed and Scopus databases. Search terms included \"Tinea incognita\" and \"Atypical dermatophytosis\". The search strategy included meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials, clinical trials, observational studies, reviews, and case reports. The search was restricted to articles written in the English language from 2006 to Feb 01, 2023. Moreover, duplicate articles and non-available full-text articles were excluded. The extracted data of the search results were retrieved in this study. The morphological patterns, prevalence, sight of infection, and causative agents were also described.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Prevalence of different patterns of TI were recorded as 50% (431 out of 862 cases) for eczema-like lesions followed by psoriasis-like and 6.61% (57 out of 862) for parapsoriasis-like pattern. Moreover, each of the rosacea-like and pyoderma-like lesions equally accounted for 4.98 % of cases (43 out of 862). In addition, the prevalence of causative agents was reported as follows: <i>Trichophyton rubrum</i> accounted for 247 isolates (40%) as the most prevalent, followed by <i>Trichophyton mentagrophytes</i> (n=152, 24%) and <i>Microsporum canis</i> (n=119, 19%).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Tinea incognita is a great mimicker; hence, dermatologists should obtain a full medical history of the patients to make correct diagnoses. It is vital to encourage an exact identification of the etiological agent according to the internal transcribed spacer sequencing in some uncertain cases. This review highlights the importance of mycological tests and fast diagnosis of TI, especially in cases of atypical skin lesions, to choose appropriate treatment and avoid the spread of drug-resistant species.</p>","PeriodicalId":10863,"journal":{"name":"Current Medical Mycology","volume":"9 2","pages":"52-63"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10874480/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139905280","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Antifungal activity of Allyl isothiocyanate by targeting signal transduction pathway, ergosterol biosynthesis, and cell cycle in <i>Candida albicans</i>.","authors":"Shivani Balasaheb Patil, Ashwini Khanderao Jadhav, Rakesh Kumar Sharma, Sargun Tushar Basrani, Tanjila Chandsaheb Gavandi, Sayali Ashok Chougule, Shivanand Ramappa Yankanchi, Sankunny Mohan Karuppayil","doi":"10.22034/CMM.2023.345081.1429","DOIUrl":"10.22034/CMM.2023.345081.1429","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and purpose: </strong>In recent years, the inclusion of <i>Candida albicans</i> on the list of infections that pose a threat due to drug resistance has urged researchers to look into cutting-edge and effective antifungal medications. In this regard, the current study investigated the probable mode of action of allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) against <i>Candida albicans</i>.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>In this study, planktonic assay, germ tube inhibition assay, adhesion, and biofilm formation assay were performed to check the growth and virulence factors. Furthermore, ergosterol assay, reactive oxygen production analysis, cell cycle analysis, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis were performed with the aim of finding the mode of action. A biomedical model organism, like a silkworm, was used in an <i>in vivo</i> study to demonstrate AITC anti-infective ability against <i>C. albicans</i> infection.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Allyl isothiocyanate completely inhibited ergosterol biosynthesis in <i>C. albicans</i> at 0.125 mg/ml. Allyl isothiocyanate produces reactive oxygen species in both planktonic and biofilm cells of <i>C. albicans</i>. At 0.125 mg/ml concentration, AITC arrested cells at the G2/M phase of the cell cycle, which may induce apoptosis in <i>C. albicans</i>. In quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis, it was found that AITC inhibited virulence factors, like germ tube formation, at 0.125 mg/ml concentration by downregulation of <i>PDE2</i>, <i>CEK1</i>, <i>TEC1</i> by 2.54-, 1.91-, and 1.04-fold change, respectively, and upregulation of <i>MIG1</i>, <i>NRG1</i>, and <i>TUP1</i> by 9.22-, 3.35-, and 7.80-fold change, respectively. The <i>in vivo</i> study showed that AITC treatment successfully protected silkworms against <i>C. albicans</i> infections and increased their survival rate by preventing internal colonization by <i>C. albicans</i>.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong><i>In vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> studies revealed that AITC can be an alternative therapeutic option for the treatment of <i>C. albicans</i> infection.</p>","PeriodicalId":10863,"journal":{"name":"Current Medical Mycology","volume":"9 2","pages":"29-38"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10874482/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139905274","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of onychomycosis on the quality of life of patients.","authors":"Fayrouz Debbagh, Fatima Babokh, Mohamed Sbai, El Mostafa El Mezouari, Redouane Moutaj","doi":"10.18502/cmm.2023.345062.1430","DOIUrl":"10.18502/cmm.2023.345062.1430","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and purpose: </strong>Onychomycosis is a very common cosmopolitan onychopathy. It affects the fingers and toes, which are important organs of function and socialization. They can cause physical and psychological discomfort. In this regard, the present study aimed to assess the impact of onychomycosis on the quality of life of patients.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>This prospective, cross-sectional, observational study was carried out in the parasitology-mycology laboratory of the Avicenne Military Hospital in Marrakesh, Morocco, over 5 months between June and October 2022. The study population was all the patients referred to the laboratory for mycological examination of a nail lesion suspected of onychomycosis of the hands and/or feet.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Onychomycosis was confirmed in 50 patients. Pain, nail thickening, and dyschromia were the most commonly reported symptoms (56%). Onychomycosis had an impact on at least one of the socio-economic, emotional, or functional aspects of the lives of affected patients. More than half (56%) of participants felt embarrassed by the appearance of their nails, 40% hid them, and 28% had a complex about them. The functional aspect was the most bothersome and the time spent on nail care concerned the patients (56%), as well as the discomfort reported when wearing shoes (40%). Women were more worried about the need to hide their nails. A duration of onychomycosis evolution of over 5 years was associated with the highest response rate to the questionnaire (66%).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Although onychomycosis is not a fatal pathology, it significantly reduces the quality of life of affected patients. There is a need to raise the level of awareness of the general population and, above all, of the medical professionals to ensure comprehensive management of onychomycosis.</p>","PeriodicalId":10863,"journal":{"name":"Current Medical Mycology","volume":"9 2","pages":"39-44"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10874484/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139905277","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Direct molecular analysis of <i>Malassezia</i> species from the clinical samples of patients with pityriasis versicolor.","authors":"Esmaeil Eghtedarnejad,&nbsp;Somayeh Khajeh,&nbsp;Kamiar Zomorodian,&nbsp;Zeinab Ghasemi,&nbsp;Somayeh Yazdanpanah,&nbsp;Marjan Motamedi","doi":"10.18502/CMM.2023.345029.1398","DOIUrl":"10.18502/CMM.2023.345029.1398","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and purpose: </strong>Species identification of <i>Malassezia</i> using culture-dependent methods is time-consuming due to their fastidious growth requirements. This study aimed to evaluate a rapid and accurate molecular method in order to diagnose the pityriasis versicolor (PV) and identify <i>Malassezia</i> species from direct clinical samples.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Skin scraping or tape samples from patients with PV and healthy volunteers as the control group were collected. Diagnosis of PV was confirmed by direct microscopic examination. The DNA extraction was performed according to the steel-bullet beating method. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay using <i>Hha</i>I restriction enzyme was applied for the identification and differentiation of <i>Malassezia</i> species.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The PCR method was able to detect <i>Malassezia</i> in 92.1% of specimens which were also confirmed with microscopic examination. Statistically, a significant association was observed between the results of the two assays (<i>P</i> < 0.001). Moderate agreement was identified between the two methods to diagnose the PV in both populations (Kappa: 0.55). Considering microscopic examination as the gold standard method for confirmation of PV, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value values of the PCR assay for recognition of PV were 85%, 75%, 92%, and 60%, respectively. <i>M. globosa</i> and <i>M. restricta</i> were the most prevalent species isolated from patients.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In this study, the two-step molecular method based on the amplification of the D1/D2 domain and digestion of the PCR product by one restriction enzyme was able to diagnose and identify <i>Malassezia</i> directly from clinical samples. Consequently, it can be said that the molecular-based method provides more facilities to identify fastidious species, such as <i>M. restricta</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":10863,"journal":{"name":"Current Medical Mycology","volume":"9 1","pages":"28-31"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10590189/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49689173","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rise of mucormycosis during the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges faced.","authors":"Malavika Kottarathil,&nbsp;Premamalini Thayanidhi,&nbsp;Sathyamurthy P,&nbsp;Anupma Jyoti Kindo","doi":"10.18502/cmm.2023.345032.1400","DOIUrl":"10.18502/cmm.2023.345032.1400","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Mucormycosis (previously called zygomycosis) is a diverse group of increasingly recognized and frequently fatal mycotic diseases caused by members of the class zygomycetes. Mucormycosis is around 80 times more common in India, compared to other developed countries, with a frequency of 0.14 cases per 1,000 population. The most frequent causative agent of mucormycosis is the following genera from the Order <i>Mucorales Rhizopus</i>, <i>Mucor</i>, <i>Rhizomucor</i>, <i>Absidia</i>, <i>Apophysomyces</i>, <i>Cunninghamella</i>, and <i>Saksenaea</i>. The major risk factors for the development of mucormycosis are diabetic ketoacidosis, deferoxamine treatment, cancer, solid organ or bone marrow transplantations, prolonged steroid use, extreme malnutrition, and neutropenia. The common clinical forms of mucormycosis are rhino-orbital-cerebral, pulmonary, cutaneous, and gastrointestinal. During the second wave of COVID-19, there was a rapid increase in mucormycosis with more severity than before. Amphotericin B is currently found to be an effective drug as it is found to have a broad-spectrum activity and posaconazole is used as a salvage therapy. Newer triazole isavuconazole is also found effective against mucormycosis. This study aimed to review various studies on the laboratory diagnosis and treatment of mucormycosis.</p>","PeriodicalId":10863,"journal":{"name":"Current Medical Mycology","volume":"9 1","pages":"44-55"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10590187/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49689177","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A critical appraisal of mucormycosis in COVID- 19 patients in a tertiary care centre in India.","authors":"Sujata Raychaudhuri,&nbsp;Juhi Taneja,&nbsp;Jaseetha Sasidharan,&nbsp;Mukta Pujani,&nbsp;Kanika Singh,&nbsp;Tathagata Chatterjee,&nbsp;Manjula Jain,&nbsp;Rajkumar Chandoke,&nbsp;Anil Rai,&nbsp;Zafar Abbas,&nbsp;Asim Das","doi":"10.18502/CMM.2023.150667","DOIUrl":"10.18502/CMM.2023.150667","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and purpose: </strong>Morbidity and mortality of opportunistic fungal infections in COVID-19 patients are less studied and defined. The patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy, broad-spectrum antibiotics, corticosteroids, and invasive and non-invasive ventilation are the high-risk groups.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>The demographic profile as well as clinical and radiological findings of all the patients with COVID-19 suspected of Mucormycosis (MM) were recorded. The tissue samples from all the patients were sent for microbiological (KOH mount and culture) and histopathological analysis for confirmation of MM.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In total, 45 COVID-19 patients suspected of MM were included in the study and MM was confirmed in 42 patients. The mean age of the patients was 50.30±14.17 years with a female: male ratio of 1.1:1. The most common symptom was headache (52.38%) followed by purulent nasal discharge (38.09%) and facial pain in 33.33% of the cases. The ocular symptoms included a diminution of vision (33.33%) and redness of the eye (2.38%). The most common site of involvement was rhino-orbital (42.85%) followed by sinonasal (23.80%) and rhino cerebral (19.04%). Majority (38.09%) of the patients were diagnosed with stage II of Rhino-orbital-cerebral Mucormycosis (ROCM) based on radiology. A history of diabetes mellitus and steroids was present in 97.61% and 85.71% of the cases, respectively. Moreover, KOH was positive for MM in 97.61% of the cases while the culture was positive in only 35.71% of the cases. In addition, on histopathology, MM was confirmed in 64.28 % of the cases. Mixed growth with <i>Aspergillus</i> species and <i>Rhizopus</i> species was observed in 14.28% of the cases in culture and 11.90% of the cases in histopathology test. Furthermore, angioinvasion was found in 23.80% of the cases according to the histopathology test.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Based on the results, the most common conditions associated with MM in COVID-19 patients were diabetes mellitus and steroid therapy. A high level of clinical suspicion aided with diagnostic tests, including KOH mount, culture, histopathology, and radiology which helped the early detection of opportunistic fungal infection in COVID-19 patients to ensure timely treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":10863,"journal":{"name":"Current Medical Mycology","volume":"9 1","pages":"1-7"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10590186/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49689171","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}