BACKGROUNDTalaromyces (Penicillium) marneffei (TM) is an emerging dimorphic human pathogenic fungus that is endemic to Southeast Asia. TM mostly occurs as an opportunistic infection in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The objective of this study was to compare the clinical and laboratory parameters of patients with TM infections who were HIV-positive and HIV-negative and to assess therapies and outcomes.

METHODSThis was a retrospective analysis of 26 patients diagnosed with disseminated TM infection from September 2005 to April 2014 at Fujian Provincial Hospital, China.

RESULTSPatients with TM infection tend to present with fever, weight loss, and anemia. The time from symptom onset to confirmed diagnosis was greater for HIV-negative patients (n = 7; median: 60 days, range: 14-365 days) than for HIV-positive patients (n = 19; median: 30 days, range: 3-90 days, Mann-Whitney U = 31.50, P= 0.041). HIV-negative patients were more likely to have dyspnea (57.1% vs. 5.3%, χ2 = 8.86, P= 0.010), low neutrophil count (Mann-Whitney U = 27.00, P= 0.029), high CD4 count (Mann-Whitney U = 0.00, P= 0.009), and high lymphocyte count (Mann-Whitney U = 21.00, P= 0.009). There were no significant differences in other demographic, clinical, or biochemical characteristics. Among all the patients, 12 HIV-positive patient and 1 HIV-negative patient received amphotericin and fluconazole treatment, 9 of whom improved, 1 died, 2 had kidney damage, 1 had hypokalemia due to exceeded doses.

CONCLUSIONSHIV-negative patients with TM infections tend to have a longer diagnostic interval, a higher percentage of dyspnea, higher levels of CD4 and lymphocytes, and lower neutrophil counts than TM infection in HIV-positive patients. Treatment programs with amphotericin and fluconazole are mostly effective.

Adult ; Aged ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; Female ; HIV Infections ; complications ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mycoses ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Retrospective Studies ; Talaromyces ; drug effects

Antifungal Agents ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Mycoses ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Near Drowning ; microbiology ; Scedosporium ; pathogenicity

OBJECTIVETo summarize the clinical features, imaging characteristics, diagnosis and treatment of a case with central nervous system infection caused by Exophiala dermatitidis, as well as to review the related literature.

METHODAssociated literature and clinical data of an 8-year-old boy who was diagnosed as central nervous system infection caused by Exophiala dermatitidis in Beijing Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University and hospitalized twice from 2012 to 2014 were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTThe boy was 8 years old with the chief complaint of dizziness for 2 months, intermittent fever for 1 month accompanied with spasm twice. He was diagnosed as bile ducts space-occupying lesions 2 years ago, when the pathological diagnosis was fungal infection. The boy was treated with irregular anti-fungal therapy. Then the boy developed nervous symptoms, impaired consciousness and abnormal physical activity that developed gradually. After hospitalization the cerebral MRI of the boy showed space-occupying lesions accompanied with edema of surrounding area. Filamentous fungi was found by brain biopsy, which was culture positive for Exophiala dermatitidis. After diagnosis the boy was treated with amphotericin B (AMB), voriconazole and 5-Fu, as well as symptomatic treatment. The state of the boy was improved gradually. Two months later, the boy could communicate with others normally and move personally. The lesions and edema seen on the MRI was decreased moderately. Accordingly, the boy was treated with oral voriconazole maintenance treatment for about 1 year and 4 months after discharge. During this period, the state of him was stable without symptoms. The lesions shown by MRI did not disappear but decreased on regular examination. However, recently the disease of the boy progressed again, with dizziness, neck pain, headache and progressive nervous symptoms (intermittent spasm, inability to cough, and impaired consciousness). The boy died at last, even with the active treatment at the second hospitalization. Exophiala dermatitidis was culture-positive again in his CSF, and was confirmed by PCR successfully.

CONCLUSIONThe central nervous system infection caused by Exophiala dermatitidis is rare. Clinical features of this disease were similar to those of other fungal CNS infection, cerebral MRI of which could show the similar lumpy lesions. Diagnosis of the disease should be based on pathology and culture.

Amphotericin B ; administration & dosage ; Antifungal Agents ; administration & dosage ; Brain ; diagnostic imaging ; microbiology ; pathology ; Central Nervous System Infections ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; microbiology ; Child ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Exophiala ; isolation & purification ; Fatal Outcome ; Fluorouracil ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Mycoses ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; Radiography ; Voriconazole ; administration & dosage

Antifungal Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Candidiasis ; complications ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Child ; Echinocandins ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Hematologic Diseases ; complications ; Humans ; Lipopeptides ; Mycoses ; complications ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Neoplasms ; complications ; Pediatrics ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Voriconazole ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical features of invasive fungal infections (IFI) in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and, to provide a basis for the effective prevention and treatment of IFI.

METHODSRetrospective analysis was performed on the clinical features and treatment outcomes of 38 children with IFI who were admitted to the PICU of Wuhan Children's Hospital between January 2009 and August 2012.

RESULTSPulmonary fungal infection (89%) was the most common among the 38 cases. Before diagnosis of IFI, all patients had severe underlying diseases and received several broad-spectrum antibiotics, including carbapenems, which were used in 95% of cases; 47% of all cases had been treated with corticosteroids systemically; all patients had received invasive operations, and 47% of them had undergone endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation. None of these cases had either typical clinical symptoms and signs or specific imaging findings. Fifty-six strains of fungi were isolated, with Candida albicans (41%), Aspergilli (25%), and Mucor (20%) being the most common ones. All patients received timely antifungal therapies, 15 cases were cured and 16 cases showed improvements, with a response rate of 82%, and the rate of adverse events was 16%.

CONCLUSIONSIn the PICU, the respiratory tract is the most common site of IFI infection, and Candida albicans is the leading pathogen. Severe underlying diseases, use of broad-spectrum antibiotics and corticosteroids, and invasive operations are the main risk factors for IFI in the PICU. Early diagnosis and timely treatment with high-performance antifungal drugs can improve the prognosis in children with IFI.

Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Intensive Care Units, Pediatric ; Male ; Mycoses ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUNDLiver transplantation is the most effective treatment for end-stage liver diseases; however, infections after transplantation can seriously affect the patient's health. The aim of this research was to investigate the diagnosis and treatment of fungal infection following liver transplantation.

METHODSClinical data for 232 liver transplant patients at risk of fungal infection were examined for the presence of fungus in the blood, fluid, sputum, urine and stools of patients and by chest or abdominal CT scans. Patients diagnosed with a fungal infection were treated with Fluconazole or, if this was not effective, Voriconazole or Amphotericin B. Immunosuppressive therapy was also reviewed.

RESULTSThirty-seven of 232 (15.9%) patients were diagnosed with a fungal infection, which occurred 4 to 34 days post-transplantation. Candida infections were diagnosed in 23 cases (62.2%) and Aspergillus infections in 12 cases (32.4%). Twenty-one cases were effectively treated with Fluconazole, 11 cases with Voriconazole, and two cases with Amphotericin B; however, three cases were not effectively treated with any of the antifungal agents. Overall, treatment was effective in 91.9% of patients.

CONCLUSIONSFungal infection has a significant influence on survival rate after liver transplantation. Imaging studies, and pathogenic and biopsy examinations can diagnose fungal infections, which can be effectively treated with antifungal agents such as Fluconazole, Voriconazole or Amphotericin B.

Adult ; Amphotericin B ; therapeutic use ; Antifungal Agents ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Fluconazole ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Liver Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Male ; Mycoses ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Pyrimidines ; therapeutic use ; Triazoles ; therapeutic use ; Voriconazole

BACKGROUNDInvasive pulmonary mycosis is the most common type of invasive fungal infection. It is often severe and difficult to treat, and is accompanied by high mortality. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravenous itraconazole followed by oral itraconazole solution in the treatment of invasive pulmonary mycosis and to determine the distribution of different fungi species.

METHODSThis was a multi-center, open-label study which enrolled 71 patients who were diagnosed as invasive pulmonary mycosis between July 2007 and January 2009. All patients received intravenous itraconazole therapy followed by oral itraconazole solution with a total treatment duration of 6 weeks. Intravenous itraconazole was given at a dose of 200 mg bid (intravenous infusion every 12 hours) for the first two days, 200 mg qd for the subsequent 12 days. Sequential oral itraconazole solution was given at a dose of 100 mg bid for 4 weeks. Efficacy and safety were assessed according to clinical as well as microbiological criteria.

RESULTSSeventy one patients participated in this study. Of the 60 patients in the full analysis dataset, the clinical response rate was 61.7% and the mycological eradication rate was 66.7%. The overall response rate was 66.7%. Drug-related adverse events occurred in 18.0% of patients: hypokalemia, liver function impairment and mild gastrointestinal side effects were the most common. One patient suffered from severe adverse event, with limb and facial swelling.

CONCLUSIONThis study showed that in patients with invasive pulmonary mycosis, intravenous itraconazole followed by oral itraconazole solution therapy was safe and effective.

Administration, Oral ; Adult ; Aged ; Antifungal Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Itraconazole ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Lung Diseases, Fungal ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mycoses ; diagnosis ; drug therapy

Hansenula anomala (H. anomaly) is part of the normal flora in the alimentary tract and throat. It has been reported to be an organism causing opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients. However, cases of fungal arthritis caused by H. anomala are rare. We encountered a case of H. anomala arthritis in a 70-year-old man who was treated with an empirical antibiotic treatment and surgery under the impression of septic arthritis. However, the patient did not improve after antibiotic therapy and surgery. Consequently, knee joint aspiration was performed again, which identified fungal arthritis caused by H. anomala. It was treated successfully with amphotericin B and fluconazole. When treating arthritis patients with diabetes, it is important to consider the possibility of septic arthritis by H. anomala and provide the appropriate treatment.
Aged ; Amphotericin B/therapeutic use ; Antifungal Agents/therapeutic use ; Arthritis, Infectious/*diagnosis/drug therapy/microbiology ; Fluconazole/therapeutic use ; Humans ; *Knee Joint ; Male ; Mycoses/*diagnosis/drug therapy ; *Pichia

Invasive fungal infections (IFI) are a kind of the most severe complications after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), Candida and Aspergillus are common causes. Because of immunosuppressive therapy, ablative conditioning regimen, acute or chronic graft-versus-host disease, long-term treatment of broad-spectrum antibiotics and cytomegalovirus infection, IFI has increased in the past few years. Invasive mould infection is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in HSCT recipients. Methods for early diagnosis of IFI include clinical and laboratory examinations, as well as characteristic radiography. Voriconazole is the first-line antifungal agent for prevention of IFI. Combination therapy of two antifungal compounds such as azoles or amphotericin B with echinocandins have shown a good effectiveness and may be a promising future strategy for antifungal treatment. In this review, the early diagnosis and treatment of IFI in HSCT recipients are summarized. As for early diagnosis of IFI, the laboratory diagnosis techniques such as GM test, G test and PCR techniques are discussed. As for prophylaxis and treatment of IFI, the prophylaxis treatment, empirical treatment, preemptive treatment, targeted treatment, combined treatment and immunologic treatment are discussed.
Antifungal Agents ; therapeutic use ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Mycoses ; diagnosis ; drug therapy

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mycoses ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Nasopharyngitis ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Nasopharynx ; microbiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult