Objective To analyze the research hotspots and trends of invasive fungal infections(IFIs)in China over the past 24 years,and provide references and suggestions for future research.Methods Literatures on IFIs re-search in China from 2000 to 2024 were retrieved from China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI)and Web of Science(WOS).CiteSpace software was employed to conduct collaboration network analysis on authors' institu-tions,and co-occurrence,clustering,and burst analyses were conducted on key words.Results A total of 2 479 li-teratures retrieved from CNKI and 1 149 from WOS were included in the analysis,involving 295 research institu-tions,with no core research team identified having a intermediary centrality＞0.1.Institutions with intermediary centrality＞0.1 included Chinese Academy of Sciences,Peking University,Fudan University,Sun Yat-sen Univer-sity and Zhejiang University.Key words with high centrality included"diagnosis""risk factor""voriconazole"and"Candida albicans".Clustering analysis grouped the co-occurrence network of key words into 6 clusters,mainly covering fungal diagnosis,treatment,and susceptible factors.Since 2020,focuses on the safety of antifungal treat-ment agents and primary prevention have emerged,with hot topics including pharmacokinetics,children,clinical features,and risk factors.Conclusion Currently,research teams are dispersed with insufficient interdisciplinary collaboration.Research topics are relatively simple.It is necessary to strengthen research on fungal resistance and healthcare-associated infection prevention and control.Risk factors and prevention measures for IFIs may be the fo-cus of future research.

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics of co-infection of Talaromyces marneffei(TM)and non-tuberculous Mycobacterium(NTM)in human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)-negative patients.Methods Clinical data of 8 HIV-negative patients with co-infection of TM and NTM in a hospital from 2019 to 2022 were co-llected.Clinical manifestations,auxiliary examination,treatment and prognosis were retrospectively analyzed.Results Among the 8 patients,5 were females and 3 were males,with an average age of(52.25±12.31)years old.All patients presented TM and NTM disseminated infection.The major involved organs were lung(100％),lymph nodes(87.5％),and skin(75.0％).Clinical symptoms mainly included cough and expectoration(87.5％),fatigue(62.5％),joint and lumbosacral pains(62.5％),fever(50.0％),as well as skin and soft tissue abscess(50.0％),etc.Anti-interferon-γ(INF-γ)autoantibodies were detected in 4 patients and the results were positive.All 8 patients(100％)had pulmonary lesions,with chest CT mainly showing spots,patches,and striped shadows in both lungs.Among them,7 cases(87.5％)had increased and enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes,4 cases(50.0％)had pleural thickening and pleural effusion,2 cases each(25.0％for each)were accompanied by pulmonary mass shadows,bronchial stenosis,as well as increased and enlarged hilar lymph nodes.One case each(12.5％for each)had pulmonary cavity formation,bronchiectasis,and pericardial effusion.Conclusion The co-infection of TM and NTM in non-HIV patients presents disseminated infection,with multiple clinical symptoms.Chest imaging shows a wide variety of pulmonary lesions.It is prone to miss diagnosis in clinic,and the effect is not ideal after treatment for single pathogen infection.

Objective To explore the clinical infection distribution and antifungal resistance characteristics of the Stephanoascusciferrii(S.ciferrii)complex.Methods Clinical fungal culture and isolation data from Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital from 2012 to 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.The annual isolation quantity,proportion,and distribution of infection sites of S.ciferrii were statistically analyzed.The minimum inhibitory concentrations(MICs)of isolated strains against common antifungal agents were detected by ATB Fungus 3 fungal susceptibility test kit,and their resistance was analyzed.Results From 2012 to 2023,a total of 26 602 fungal strains were isola-ted in this hospital,including 79 strains of the S.ciferrii complex.Compared with 2012-2017,the isolation rate of S.ciferrii complex increased from 2018 to 2023(0.06％vs 0.43％,P＜0.001).There were 69 cases of super-ficial infection,including infection of ear canal(n=67)and skin(n=2).92.75％(n=64)of the patients were im-munocompetent individuals.There were 10 cases of invasive infection,including infection of urinary tract(n=5),respiratory tract(n=2),biliary tract(n=1),pacemaker pouch(n=1),and vagina(n=1).70.00％of the pa-tients had other underlying diseases,including 3 cases of immunosuppressed patients who died due to combined in-fection with the S.ciferrii complex.The MICs detection results showed that the MIC50 and MIC90 of fluconazole were 32 μg/mL and 128 μg/mL,respectively;the MIC50 and MIC90 of amphotericin B were 0.5 μg/mL and 2 μg/mL,respectively.Conclusion S.ciferrii complex mainly causes ear canal infection and has the dual pathogenic ability to cause superficial and invasive infection.The isolated strains showed higher MIC values for fluconazole and lower MIC values for amphotericin B.The mortality is high in immunosuppressed patients combined with invasive infec-tion caused by S.ciferrii.

Objective To report the diagnosis and treatment processes of a fungal keratitis case caused by Lasio-diplodia theobromae(L.theobromae),and enhance the diagnosis and treatment experience on fungal keratitis caused by this rare pathogen.Methods Corneal scraping specimen from a patient with fungal keratitis was collec-ted.Gram-staining and fluorescence staining were conducted on specimen,followed with direct microscopic observa-tion and isolation culture.The strain was identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry(MALDI-TOF MS)technology and targeted DNA sequencing.Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was conducted.Literatures were summarized and clinical data on fungal keratitis caused by this pathogen were sorted out.Results Septal fungal hyphae could be seen on the corneal scraping specimen microscopically.The strain was identified as L.theobromae by both MALDI-TOF MS and targeted DNA sequencing after culture.Antimicrobial susceptibility testing(microdilution method)showed that the minimal inhibitory concentrations(MICs)of ampho-tericin B,vorionazole,itraconazole,posaconazole,fluconazole,5-fluorocytosine,micafungin,caspofungin,and anidulafungin against this strain were 1,0.25,＞8,0.25,＞256,8,16,2,and 0.25 μg/mL,respectively.Pa-tient recovered well after antifungal treatment plan was adjusted according to antimicrobial susceptibility testing re-sults.Conclusion L.theobromae is a rare pathogen that causes fungal keratitis.Laboratory tests provide rapid mi-croscopic examination results,and take MALDI-TOF MS and targeted DNA sequencing identification techniques as effective means to detect rare pathogen.In vitro antimicrobial susceptibility testing result can provide reference for clinicians to correctly use antifungal agents for treatment of infection due to this pathogen.

Objective To analyze the monitoring of healthcare-associated infection(HAI)in the intensive care unit(ICU)over the past 12 years based on Joinpoint regression model,and evaluate the trend changes and relevant fac-tors of HAI incidence.Methods ICU patients in a tertiary first-class hospital from January 2012 to December 2023 were selected and performed prospective monitoring.Trend changes of HAI incidence and the correlation with con-sumption of hand hygiene products as well as HAI management measures were analyzed.Results From 2012 to 2023,6 929 ICU patients were included in the monitoring,543 patients had 655 episodes of HAI,with incidence and case incidence of HAI being 7.84％ and 9.45％,respectively.The average severity of the disease was 3.62,and the adjusted HAI incidence was 2.17％.The daily incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia(VAP),cathe-ter-associated urinary tract infection(CAUTI),and central line-associated bloodstream infection(CLABSI)were 6.19‰,3.45‰,and 1.23‰,respectively.The consumption of hand hygiene products was 122.98 mL/bed-day.The compliance rate and correct rate of hand hygiene were 90.63％and 90.46％,respectively.From 2012 to 2023,incidence of HAI(51.29％vs 4.39％),case incidence of HAI(72.41％vs 4.94％),the adjusted incidence of HAI(15.98％vs 1.04％),daily incidence of VAP(22.50‰ vs 4.33‰),daily incidence of CAUTI(14.23‰ vs 1.64‰),and daily incidence of CLABSI(10.60‰ vs 0.20‰)all decreased significantly(all P＜0.05).Both con-sumption of hand hygiene products(75.16 mL/bed-day vs 147.35 mL/bed-day)and correct rate of hand hygiene(85.00％vs 90.28％)increased significantly(both P＜0.05).A total of 1 946 pathogens were detected,with an increase in the proportion of Staphylococcus aureus(1.30％ vs 9.57％)and a decrease in the proportion of fungi(11.04％vs 1.74％).The daily consumption of hand hygiene products negatively correlated with the incidence of HAI,the case incidence of HAI,as well as the daily incidence of CAUTI and CLABSI(all P＜0.05).Incorpora-ting HAI real-time monitoring system and HAI management into performance assessment could decrease HAI-rela-ted incidence(P＜0.05).Conclusion HAI-related incidence presents a downward trend.Scientific and comprehen-sive HAI prevention and control management measures such as healthcare workers'hand hygiene management,on-line HAI real-time monitoring system,and incorporating HAI management into performance assessment can de-crease HAI-related incidence and promote the improvement of medical quality.

Objective To construct a knowledge graph of healthcare-associated infection(HAI)prevention and control course,and evaluate its usability.Methods Based on the constructivist learning theory and the analyze-de-sign-develop-implement-evaluate(ADDIE)model,knowledge from various sources such as books,guidelines,and literature related to HAI prevention and control were integrated.The knowledge graph of HAI prevention and con-trol course were designed and constructed with the support of knowledge graph technology in Chaoxing Fanya plat-form.Thirty medical students were selected by convenience sampling method to try out the course knowledge graph.System usability scale and usage effect questionnaire were filled out to evaluate the usability of the knowledge graph.Results The knowledge graph of HAI prevention and control course contained 379 knowledge points asso-ciated with 520 test questions and 56 learning resources.After testing,the total score([70.50±12.20]points)was obtained for the usability of the knowledge graph.Among the four dimensions of the usage effect agreement ques-tionnaire,satisfaction,learning attitude,learning ability,and learning resource support accounted for 93.33％-96.67％,90.00％,93.33％-96.67％,and 83.33％-90.00％,respectively,with a high overall satisfaction rate.Conclusion The knowledge graph of HAI prevention and control course has good usability,which can realize students'personalized independent learning and improve their learning efficiency.

Objective To investigate the incidence and economic burden of healthcare-associated infection(HAI)in patients after liver transplant.Methods Basic clinical information,infection status,and related medical expenses of liver transplant patients in the department of hepatobiliary surgery in a tertiary first-class hospital from November 2012 to December 2023 were investigated retrospectively.A case-control study design was employed,with post-li-ver transplant patients who developed HAI as the infection group and those without HAI during the same period as the control group.The 1∶1 propensity score matching(PSM)method was adopted(caliper value was set at 0.05,employing sampling without replacement).Length of hospital stay and hospitalization expenses between patients in the infection group and the control group were compared using Wilcoxon rank-sum test,and the economic burden due to HAI was calculated.Results A total of 336 liver transplant patients were included in study,out of which 48 had HAI,with an incidence of 14.29％.44 pairs were successfully matched by PSM.After matching,the median hospitalization expense for patients in the infection group was 334 473.73 Yuan,while that of the control group was 285 824.82 Yuan,with a statistically significant difference(Z=-3.430,P＜0.05).The direct economic burden of HAI in liver transplant patients was 48 648.91 Yuan.After matching,the median length of hospital stay in the in-fection group(37.0 days)was 12.5 days longer than that in the control group(24.5 days),with statistically sig-nificnat difference(Z=-3.630,P＜0.001).Conclusion HAI after liver transplant increases patients' hospitaliza-tion expense and prolongs their hospital stay,thus brings huge economic burdens to the patients.

Objective To conduct a large-scale survey on the competence of healthcare workers(HCWs)in stan-dard prevention,assess the current status and training needs,and provide basis for the effective implementation of standard prevention.Methods A convenience sampling method was used to conduct an online questionnaire survey among HCWs from various medical institutions across the city.The survey contents included general information,competence questionnaires(basic cognitive and practical competence),as well as training willingness and needs.Results A total of 6 773 HCWs from 62 medical institutions participated in the survey.The average score of their competence in standard prevention was(14.98±2.63)points,with a total scoring rate of 68.07％.The scoring rate of"practical competence"(63.79％)was lower than that of"basic cognition"(73.20％).The highest scoring rate for each dimension was"hand hygiene"(90.90％),and the lowest was"use of protective equipment"(17.25％).Males,technicians,primary medical institutions,college degrees,work experience under 10 years,and emergency/general departments were characteristics of HCWs with lower standard prevention competence.99.37％of the HC-Ws were willing to participate in training."once a month""Monday to Friday afternoon""15-30 minutes""online learning""use protective equipment""local infection control experts"were the top choices in terms of training needs.Conclusion HCWs' competence in standard prevention needs to be improved urgently,especially in the as-pects of weak practical skills and differences among various groups,HCWs have a strong willingness to participate in standard prevention training.Future efforts should focus on overlooked population in HAI management,increase their training opportunities and diversity,and enhance practice implementation.

Fungal infection is an increasingly serious clinical problem,especially in immunocompromised patients.Fungi,such as Candida albicans,Aspergillus,and Cryptococcus,can form biofilm,which enhance their drug re-sistance and immune evasion ability,thus become major obstacles to the treatment of infection.Biofilm formation is not limited to human body,it can also form on the surface of medical devices,leading to chronic and recurrent infec-tion.This article elaborates the biofilm formation mechanisms and hazards caused by different fungi such as Candi-da albicans and Aspergillus,emphasizes immune suppression,chronic diseases,and medical devices as high-risk factors for biofilm formation.Fungi can form biofilm through multiple stages such as adhesion,proliferation,extra-cellular matrix(ECM)construction,and cell dispersion,and enhance drug resistance based on physical barriers and gene regulation.Although existing antifungal agents are effective in infection caused by planktonic fungi,their treatment efficacy on fungal biofilm is limited.Therefore,the article explores new treatment strategies,including non-pharmacological therapies such as photodynamic therapy and electric field therapy,as well as targeted gene edi-ting and the application of new biomaterials.It is necessary to strengthen the combination of basic research and clini-cal applications,develop efficient and low toxicity treatment scheme to improve the successful treatment rate for patients.

Tuberculosis,as a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis(MTB)infection,presenting a serious threat to human and animal health.When human body is infected by MTB,it quickly initiates an immune response,in which T lymphocyte-mediated cellular immunity plays a key role,as it can effectively recog-nize and eliminate MTB,serving as an important defense line for the body against MTB.However,during MTB in-fection process,myeloid-derived suppressor cells(MDSCs)undergo amplification and activation,which exhibit in-hibitory effect on the immune function of T lymphocytes and interfere the normal immune response of the body,making MTB easier to survive and reproduce in the body.This article discusses the role of MDSCs in the occu-rrence,development and prognosis of tuberculosis from two different perspectives,expects to provide new perspec-tives and ideas for the immunotherapy of tuberculosis as well as the research and development of targeted drugs,so as to open up a new way for the prevention and treatment of tuberculosis.