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Brandão J, Gangneux JP, Arikan-Akdagli S, Barac A, Bostanaru AC, Brito S, Bull M, Çerikçioğlu N, Chapman B, Efstratiou MA, Ergin Ç, Frenkel M, Gitto A, Gonçalves CI, Guégan H, Gunde-Cimerman N, Güran M, Irinyi L, Jonikaitė E, Kataržytė M, Klingspor L, Mares M, Meijer WG, Melchers WJG, Meletiadis J, Meyer W, Nastasa V, Babič MN, Ogunc D, Ozhak B, Prigitano A, Ranque S, Rusu RO, Sabino R, Sampaio A, Silva S, Stephens JH, Tehupeiory-Kooreman M, Tortorano AM, Velegraki A, Veríssimo C, Wunderlich GC, Segal E. Mycosands: Fungal diversity and abundance in beach sand and recreational waters - Relevance to human health. Sci Total Environ 2021; 781:146598. [PMID: 33812107 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The goal of most studies published on sand contaminants is to gather and discuss knowledge to avoid faecal contamination of water by run-offs and tide-retractions. Other life forms in the sand, however, are seldom studied but always pointed out as relevant. The Mycosands initiative was created to generate data on fungi in beach sands and waters, of both coastal and freshwater inland bathing sites. A team of medical mycologists and water quality specialists explored the sand culturable mycobiota of 91 bathing sites, and water of 67 of these, spanning from the Atlantic to the Eastern Mediterranean coasts, including the Italian lakes and the Adriatic, Baltic, and Black Seas. Sydney (Australia) was also included in the study. Thirteen countries took part in the initiative. The present study considered several fungal parameters (all fungi, several species of the genus Aspergillus and Candida and the genera themselves, plus other yeasts, allergenic fungi, dematiaceous fungi and dermatophytes). The study considered four variables that the team expected would influence the results of the analytical parameters, such as coast or inland location, urban and non-urban sites, period of the year, geographical proximity and type of sediment. The genera most frequently found were Aspergillus spp., Candida spp., Fusarium spp. and Cryptococcus spp. both in sand and in water. A site-blind median was found to be 89 Colony-Forming Units (CFU) of fungi per gram of sand in coastal and inland freshwaters, with variability between 0 and 6400 CFU/g. For freshwater sites, that number was 201.7 CFU/g (0, 6400 CFU/g (p = 0.01)) and for coastal sites was 76.7 CFU/g (0, 3497.5 CFU/g). For coastal waters and all waters, the median was 0 CFU/ml (0, 1592 CFU/ml) and for freshwaters 6.7 (0, 310.0) CFU/ml (p < 0.001). The results advocate that beaches should be monitored for fungi for safer use and better management.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Brandão
- Department of Environmental Health, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal; Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) - Department of Animal Biology, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - J P Gangneux
- Univ Rennes, CHU Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - S Arikan-Akdagli
- Mycology Laboratory at Department of Medical Microbiology of Hacettepe University Medical School, Ankara, Turkey
| | - A Barac
- Clinical Centre of Serbia, Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia
| | - A C Bostanaru
- Ion Ionescu de la Brad University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Iasi, Romania
| | - S Brito
- Department of Environmental Health, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - M Bull
- Quantal Bioscience, North Parramatta, Australia
| | - N Çerikçioğlu
- Mycology Laboratory at Department of Medical Microbiology of Marmara University Medical School, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - B Chapman
- Quantal Bioscience, North Parramatta, Australia
| | - M A Efstratiou
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of the Aegean, University Hill, Mytilene, Greece
| | - Ç Ergin
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Medical Faculty, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey
| | - M Frenkel
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - A Gitto
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, University College Dublin, Ireland; UCD Earth Institute, University College Dublin, Ireland; UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Ireland
| | - C I Gonçalves
- Department of Biology and Environment, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal
| | - H Guégan
- Univ Rennes, CHU Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - N Gunde-Cimerman
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - M Güran
- Faculty of Medicine, Eastern Mediterranean University, Famagusta, Northern Cyprus, Mersin 10, Turkey
| | - L Irinyi
- Molecular Mycology Research Laboratory, Centre for Infectious Disease and Microbiology, Sydney Medical School, Westmead Clinical School, Westmead Hospital, Marie Bashir Institute for Emerging Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Westmead, Australia
| | - E Jonikaitė
- Marine Research Institute, Klaipėda University, Klaipėda, Lithuania
| | - M Kataržytė
- Marine Research Institute, Klaipėda University, Klaipėda, Lithuania
| | - L Klingspor
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicin, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - M Mares
- Ion Ionescu de la Brad University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Iasi, Romania
| | - W G Meijer
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, University College Dublin, Ireland; UCD Earth Institute, University College Dublin, Ireland; UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Ireland
| | - W J G Melchers
- Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Centre (Radboudumc), Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - J Meletiadis
- Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Attikon University Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - W Meyer
- Molecular Mycology Research Laboratory, Centre for Infectious Disease and Microbiology, Sydney Medical School, Westmead Clinical School, Westmead Hospital, Marie Bashir Institute for Emerging Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Westmead, Australia
| | - V Nastasa
- Ion Ionescu de la Brad University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Iasi, Romania
| | - M Novak Babič
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - D Ogunc
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Akdeniz University Medical School, Antalya, Turkey
| | - B Ozhak
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Akdeniz University Medical School, Antalya, Turkey
| | - A Prigitano
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università Degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - S Ranque
- Aix Marseille Univ, IHU-Méditerranée Infection, AP-HM, IRD, SSA, VITROME, Marseille, France
| | - R O Rusu
- Ion Ionescu de la Brad University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Iasi, Romania
| | - R Sabino
- Reference Unit for Parasitic and Fungal Infections, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - A Sampaio
- Department of Biology and Environment, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal; Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
| | - S Silva
- Department of Epidemiology, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - J H Stephens
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, University College Dublin, Ireland; UCD Earth Institute, University College Dublin, Ireland; UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Ireland
| | - M Tehupeiory-Kooreman
- Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Centre (Radboudumc), Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - A M Tortorano
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università Degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - A Velegraki
- Mycology Research Laboratory and UOA/HCPF Culture Collection, Microbiology Department, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece and Mycology Laboratory, BIOMEDICINE S.A., Athens, Greece
| | - C Veríssimo
- Reference Unit for Parasitic and Fungal Infections, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - G C Wunderlich
- Quantal Bioscience, North Parramatta, Australia; Molecular Mycology Research Laboratory, Centre for Infectious Disease and Microbiology, Sydney Medical School, Westmead Clinical School, Westmead Hospital, Marie Bashir Institute for Emerging Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Westmead, Australia
| | - E Segal
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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Prigitano A, Cavanna C, Passera M, Gelmi M, Sala E, Ossi C, Grancini A, Calabrò M, Bramati S, Tejada M, Lallitto F, Farina C, Rognoni V, Fasano MA, Pini B, Romanò L, Cogliati M, Esposto MC, Tortorano AM. Evolution of fungemia in an Italian region. J Mycol Med 2019; 30:100906. [PMID: 31708424 DOI: 10.1016/j.mycmed.2019.100906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2019] [Revised: 09/09/2019] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fungemia represents a public health concern. Knowing aetiology and activity of the antifungals is critical for the management of bloodstream infections. Therefore, surveillance on local/international levels is desirable for a prompt administration of appropriate therapy. METHODS Data on fungi responsible for fungemia and antifungal susceptibility profiles were collected from a laboratory-based surveillance over 2016-2017 in 12 hospitals located in Lombardia, Italy. The trend of this infection in twenty years was analysed. RESULTS A total of 1024 episodes were evaluated. Rate of candiaemia progressively increased up to 1.46/1000 admissions. C.albicans was the most common species (52%), followed by C. parapsilosis (15%) and C glabrata (13%). As in the previous surveys the antifungal resistance is rare (echinocandins<2%, fluconazole 6%, amphotericin B 0.6%). Fungi other than Candida were responsible for 18 episodes: Cryptococcus neoformans (5 cases), Fusarium spp. (4), Magnusiomyces clavatus (3), Saccharomyces cerevisiae (3), Rhodotorula spp. (2), Exophiala dermatitidis (1). All fungi, except S.cerevisiae, were intrinsically resistant to echinocandins. Some isolates showed also elevated azole MIC. CONCLUSIONS No particular changes in terms of species distribution and antifungal susceptibility patterns was noted. However, surveillance programs are needed to monitor trends in antifungal resistance, steer stewardship activities, orient empirical treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Prigitano
- Department of Biomedical Science for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Pascal 36, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - C Cavanna
- Microbiology and Virology Unit IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - M Passera
- Microbiology Institute, ASST 'Papa G iovanni XXIII', Bergamo, Italy
| | - M Gelmi
- Microbiology Laboratory, A.O. Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - E Sala
- Microbiology - ASST Lariana, Como, Italy
| | - C Ossi
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Virology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
| | - A Grancini
- Microbiology Laboratory, Fondazione IRCCS C à Granda O. Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - M Calabrò
- Microbiology Section, Humanitas Research Hospital, Milano, Italy
| | - S Bramati
- Microbiology Laboratory, Ospedale San Gerardo, Monza, Italy
| | - M Tejada
- Medicina di Laboratorio, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, Milano, Italy
| | - F Lallitto
- Microbiology and Virology Unit IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - C Farina
- Microbiology Institute, ASST 'Papa G iovanni XXIII', Bergamo, Italy
| | | | - M A Fasano
- Microbiology and Virology Unit, ASST Bergamo Ovest Treviglio, Italy
| | - B Pini
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Virology, ASST Lecco, Italy
| | - L Romanò
- Department of Biomedical Science for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Pascal 36, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - M Cogliati
- Department of Biomedical Science for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Pascal 36, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - M C Esposto
- Department of Biomedical Science for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Pascal 36, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - A M Tortorano
- Department of Biomedical Science for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Pascal 36, 20133 Milano, Italy.
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Pérez-Hansen A, Lass-Flörl C, Lackner M, Aigner M, Alastruey-Izquierdo A, Arikan-Akdagli S, Bader O, Becker K, Boekhout T, Buzina W, Cornely OA, Hamal P, Kidd SE, Kurzai O, Lagrou K, Lopes Colombo A, Mares M, Masoud H, Meis JF, Oliveri S, Rodloff AC, Orth-Höller D, Guerrero-Lozano I, Sanguinetti M, Segal E, Taj-Aldeen SJ, Tortorano AM, Trovato L, Walther G, Willinger B. Antifungal susceptibility profiles of rare ascomycetous yeasts. J Antimicrob Chemother 2019; 74:2649-2656. [DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkz231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2018] [Revised: 04/30/2019] [Accepted: 05/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractObjectivesTo generate antifungal susceptibility patterns for Trichomonascus ciferrii (Candida ciferrii), Candida inconspicua (Torulopsis inconspicua) and Diutina rugosa species complex (Candida rugosa species complex), and to provide key parameters such as MIC50, MIC90 and tentative epidemiological cut-off values (TECOFFs).MethodsOur strain set included isolates of clinical origin: C. inconspicua (n = 168), D. rugosa species complex (n = 90) [Candida pararugosa (n = 60), D. rugosa (n = 26) and Candida mesorugosa (n = 4)], Pichia norvegensis (Candida norvegensis) (n = 15) and T. ciferrii (n = 8). Identification was performed by MALDI-TOF MS or internal transcribed spacer sequencing. Antifungal susceptibility patterns were generated for azoles, echinocandins and amphotericin B using commercial Etest and the EUCAST broth microdilution method v7.3.1. Essential agreement (EA) was calculated for Etest and EUCAST.ResultsC. inconspicua, C. pararugosa and P. norvegensis showed elevated azole MICs (MIC50 ≥0.06 mg/L), and D. rugosa and C. pararugosa elevated echinocandin MICs (MIC50 ≥0.06 mg/L). EA between methods was generally low (<90%); EA averaged 77.45%. TECOFFs were suggested for C. inconspicua and D. rugosa species complex.ConclusionsRare yeast species tested shared high fluconazole MICs. D. rugosa species complex displayed high echinocandin MICs, while C. inconspicua and P. norvegensis were found to have high azole MICs. Overall, the agreement between EUCAST and Etest was poor and therefore MIC values generated with Etest cannot be directly compared with EUCAST results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Pérez-Hansen
- Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Schöpfstraße 41, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Cornelia Lass-Flörl
- Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Schöpfstraße 41, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Michaela Lackner
- Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Schöpfstraße 41, Innsbruck, Austria
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Risslegger B, Zoran T, Lackner M, Aigner M, Sánchez-Reus F, Rezusta A, Chowdhary A, Taj-Aldeen SJ, Arendrup MC, Oliveri S, Kontoyiannis DP, Alastruey-Izquierdo A, Lagrou K, Lo Cascio G, Meis JF, Buzina W, Farina C, Drogari-Apiranthitou M, Grancini A, Tortorano AM, Willinger B, Hamprecht A, Johnson E, Klingspor L, Arsic-Arsenijevic V, Cornely OA, Meletiadis J, Prammer W, Tullio V, Vehreschild JJ, Trovato L, Lewis RE, Segal E, Rath PM, Hamal P, Rodriguez-Iglesias M, Roilides E, Arikan-Akdagli S, Chakrabarti A, Colombo AL, Fernández MS, Martin-Gomez MT, Badali H, Petrikkos G, Klimko N, Heimann SM, Houbraken J, Uzun O, Edlinger M, Fuente SDL, Lass-Flörl C. A prospective international Aspergillus terreus survey: an EFISG, ISHAM and ECMM joint study. Clin Microbiol Infect 2017; 23:776.e1-776.e5. [PMID: 28412383 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2017.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2017] [Revised: 04/07/2017] [Accepted: 04/09/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES A prospective international multicentre surveillance study was conducted to investigate the prevalence and amphotericin B susceptibility of Aspergillus terreus species complex infections. METHODS A total of 370 cases from 21 countries were evaluated. RESULTS The overall prevalence of A. terreus species complex among the investigated patients with mould-positive cultures was 5.2% (370/7116). Amphotericin B MICs ranged from 0.125 to 32 mg/L, (median 8 mg/L). CONCLUSIONS Aspergillus terreus species complex infections cause a wide spectrum of aspergillosis and the majority of cryptic species display high amphotericin B MICs.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Risslegger
- Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - T Zoran
- Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - M Lackner
- Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - M Aigner
- Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - F Sánchez-Reus
- Servei de Microbiologia, Hospital de la Santa Creu I Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain
| | - A Rezusta
- Microbiologia, Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, IIS Aragon, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - A Chowdhary
- Department of Medical Mycology, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - S J Taj-Aldeen
- Microbiology Division, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - M C Arendrup
- Statens Serum Institute, Unit of Mycology, & Department of Clinical Microbiology, Copenhagen University, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - S Oliveri
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - D P Kontoyiannis
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - K Lagrou
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - G Lo Cascio
- Unità Operativa Complessa di Microbiologia e virologia, Dipartimento di Patologia e diagnostica, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, Verona, Italy
| | - J F Meis
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - W Buzina
- Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - C Farina
- Microbiology Institute, ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy
| | - M Drogari-Apiranthitou
- Infectious Diseases Research Laboratory, 4(th) Department of Internal Medicine, ATTIKON University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - A Grancini
- Laboratorio Centrale di Analisi Chimico Cliniche e Microbiologia, IRCCS Foundation, Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - A M Tortorano
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - B Willinger
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical Microbiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - A Hamprecht
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - E Johnson
- Mycology Reference Laboratory, Public Health England, Bristol, UK
| | - L Klingspor
- Karolinska Institutet, Department of Laboratory Medicine, F 68, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - V Arsic-Arsenijevic
- National Reference Medical Mycology Laboratory, Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - O A Cornely
- Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), Department I of Internal Medicine, Clinical Trials Centre Cologne (ZKS Köln), Centre for Integrated Oncology (CIO Köln-Bonn), German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - J Meletiadis
- Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, National Kapodistrian University of Athens, ATTIKON University Hospital Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - W Prammer
- Department of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Klinikum Wels-Grieskirchen, Wels, Austria
| | - V Tullio
- Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, Microbiology Division, Turin, Italy
| | - J-J Vehreschild
- Department I for Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne and German Centre for Infection Research, Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Germany
| | - L Trovato
- A.O.U. Policlinico Vittorio Emanuele Catania, Biometec - University of Catania, Italy
| | - R E Lewis
- Infectious Diseases Unit, S. Orsola-Malpighi, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - E Segal
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - P-M Rath
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - P Hamal
- Department of of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc and University Hospital Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - M Rodriguez-Iglesias
- Clinical Microbiology, Puerta del Mar University Hospital, University of Cádiz, Cádiz, Spain
| | - E Roilides
- Infectious Diseases Unit, 3(rd) Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Aristotle University School of Health Sciences, Hippokration General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - S Arikan-Akdagli
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Hacettepe University Medical School, Ankara, Turkey
| | - A Chakrabarti
- Division of Mycology, Department of Medial Microbiology, Chandigarh, India
| | - A L Colombo
- Escola Paulista de Medicina, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - M S Fernández
- Departmento de Micología, Instituto de Medicina Regional, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, CONICET, Resistencia, Argentina
| | - M T Martin-Gomez
- Division of Clinical Mycology, Department of Microbiology, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
| | - H Badali
- Department of Medical Mycology and Parasitology/Invasive Fungi Research Centre, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - G Petrikkos
- School of Medicine, European University Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - N Klimko
- Department of Clinical Mycology, Allergy and Immunology, North Western State Medical University, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - S M Heimann
- Department I for Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - J Houbraken
- CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - O Uzun
- Hacettepe University Medical School, Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Ankara, Turkey
| | - M Edlinger
- Department of Medical Statistics, Informatics and Health Economics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - S de la Fuente
- Department of Dermatology, Hospital Ernest Lluch Martin, Calatayud, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - C Lass-Flörl
- Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
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van der Linden JWM, Arendrup MC, Warris A, Lagrou K, Pelloux H, Hauser PM, Chryssanthou E, Mellado E, Kidd SE, Tortorano AM, Dannaoui E, Gaustad P, Baddley JW, Uekötter A, Lass-Flörl C, Klimko N, Moore CB, Denning DW, Pasqualotto AC, Kibbler C, Arikan-Akdagli S, Andes D, Meletiadis J, Naumiuk L, Nucci M, Melchers WJG, Verweij PE. Prospective multicenter international surveillance of azole resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus. Emerg Infect Dis 2015; 21:1041-4. [PMID: 25988348 PMCID: PMC4451897 DOI: 10.3201/eid2106.140717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 255] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
To investigate azole resistance in clinical Aspergillus isolates, we conducted prospective multicenter international surveillance. A total of 3,788 Aspergillus isolates were screened in 22 centers from 19 countries. Azole-resistant A. fumigatus was more frequently found (3.2% prevalence) than previously acknowledged, causing resistant invasive and noninvasive aspergillosis and severely compromising clinical use of azoles.
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Esposto MC, Lazzarini C, Prigitano A, Olivi A, Monti M, Tortorano AM. Trichophyton concentricum in skin lesions in children from the Salomon Islands. GIORN ITAL DERMAT V 2015; 150:491-494. [PMID: 26333549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
AIM Aim of the paper was to report cases of Tinea imbricata, a mycosis caused by the anthropophilic dermatophyte Trichophyton concentricum, observed in 2012 in Guadalcanal, the largest of the Salomon islands. METHODS During 2012, several cases of Tinea imbricata, called bakwa by local people, were observed in the Little Samaritan Hospital in Guadalcanal. Skin scrapings collected from three young patients were examined in Italy to confirm the clinical diagnosis. The fungus grown on culture was morphologically identified and submitted to sequencing of the ITS1-ITS2 region. RESULTS The diagnosis obtained by visual inspection of the skin lesions, characterised by concentric and lamellar plaques of scale often involving large part of the body, was confirmed mycological investigations. A prevalence of 15% of Tinea imbricata in this population was hypothesized. The fungus grown on culture was morphologically identified as Trichophyton concentricum and identification was confirmed sequencing the ITS1-ITS2 region. Patients were treated with potassium permanganate solution soaked gauze followed by colloidal sulfur and salicylic acid cream application. However, the efficacy of the antifungal treatment was difficult to evaluate due to the poor compliance of the patients and the remoteness of the villages. CONCLUSION Italian clinicians and mycologists should be aware of this fungal infection because the increased number of international travels and of migration rise the spread of infections previously restricted to limited geographical areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- M C Esposto
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy -
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Tortorano AM, Carminati G, Tosoni A, Tintelnot K. Primary Cutaneous Coccidioidomycosis in an Italian Nun Working in South America and Review of Published Literature. Mycopathologia 2015; 180:229-35. [PMID: 25935662 DOI: 10.1007/s11046-015-9895-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2015] [Accepted: 04/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Coccidioidomycosis is a systemic disease caused by the dimorphic fungus Coccidioides, endemic in parts of the Southwestern USA and Central and South America. Two species, Coccidioides immitis and Coccidioides posadasii, were differentiated. Primary cutaneous coccidioidomycosis (PCC) has been reported rarely. An unusual case of PCC characterized by a persistent solitary lesion diagnosed in Italy in an immunocompetent Italian nun living in Argentina is described. The isolate was identified by sequence analysis as C. posadasii. Antibody screening was negative. A total of 39 cases of PCC have been reported in the literature. Infections occurred as a consequence of traumatic implantation in a natural setting in endemic areas or of accidental inoculation in laboratory workers. Importance of accurate investigation of travel history and of occupational hazards to laboratory workers is outlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Tortorano
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Pascal 36, 20133, Milan, Italy,
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Tortorano AM, Richardson M, Roilides E, van Diepeningen A, Caira M, Munoz P, Johnson E, Meletiadis J, Pana ZD, Lackner M, Verweij P, Freiberger T, Cornely OA, Arikan-Akdagli S, Dannaoui E, Groll AH, Lagrou K, Chakrabarti A, Lanternier F, Pagano L, Skiada A, Akova M, Arendrup MC, Boekhout T, Chowdhary A, Cuenca-Estrella M, Guinea J, Guarro J, de Hoog S, Hope W, Kathuria S, Lortholary O, Meis JF, Ullmann AJ, Petrikkos G, Lass-Flörl C. ESCMID and ECMM joint guidelines on diagnosis and management of hyalohyphomycosis: Fusarium spp., Scedosporium spp. and others. Clin Microbiol Infect 2014; 20 Suppl 3:27-46. [PMID: 24548001 DOI: 10.1111/1469-0691.12465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 316] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2013] [Revised: 11/18/2013] [Accepted: 11/18/2013] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Mycoses summarized in the hyalohyphomycosis group are heterogeneous, defined by the presence of hyaline (non-dematiaceous) hyphae. The number of organisms implicated in hyalohyphomycosis is increasing and the most clinically important species belong to the genera Fusarium, Scedosporium, Acremonium, Scopulariopsis, Purpureocillium and Paecilomyces. Severely immunocompromised patients are particularly vulnerable to infection, and clinical manifestations range from colonization to chronic localized lesions to acute invasive and/or disseminated diseases. Diagnosis usually requires isolation and identification of the infecting pathogen. A poor prognosis is associated with fusariosis and early therapy of localized disease is important to prevent progression to a more aggressive or disseminated infection. Therapy should include voriconazole and surgical debridement where possible or posaconazole as salvage treatment. Voriconazole represents the first-line treatment of infections due to members of the genus Scedosporium. For Acremonium spp., Scopulariopsis spp., Purpureocillium spp. and Paecilomyces spp. the optimal antifungal treatment has not been established. Management usually consists of surgery and antifungal treatment, depending on the clinical presentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Tortorano
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
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Klingspor L, Tortorano AM, Peman J, Willinger B, Hamal P, Sendid B, Velegraki A, Kibbler C, Meis JF, Sabino R, Ruhnke M, Arikan-Akdagli S, Salonen J, Dóczi I. Invasive Candida infections in surgical patients in intensive care units: a prospective, multicentre survey initiated by the European Confederation of Medical Mycology (ECMM) (2006-2008). Clin Microbiol Infect 2014; 21:87.e1-87.e10. [PMID: 25636940 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2014.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2014] [Revised: 06/26/2014] [Accepted: 08/09/2014] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
A prospective, observational, multicentre study of invasive candidosis (IC) in surgical patients in intensive care units (ICUs) was conducted from 2006 to 2008 in 72 ICUs in 14 European countries. A total of 779 patients (62.5% males, median age 63 years) with IC were included. The median rate of candidaemia was 9 per 1000 admissions. In 10.8% the infection was already present at the time of admission to ICU. Candida albicans accounted for 54% of the isolates, followed by Candida parapsilosis 18.5%, Candida glabrata 13.8%, Candida tropicalis 6%, Candida krusei 2.5%, and other species 5.3%. Infections due to C. krusei (57.9%) and C. glabrata (43.6%) had the highest crude mortality rate. The most common preceding surgery was abdominal (51.5%), followed by thoracic (20%) and neurosurgery (8.2%). Candida glabrata was more often isolated after abdominal surgery in patients ≥60 years, and C. parapsilosis was more often isolated in neurosurgery and multiple trauma patients as well as children ≤1 year of age. The most common first-line treatment was fluconazole (60%), followed by caspofungin (18.7%), liposomal amphotericin B (13%), voriconazole (4.8%) and other drugs (3.5%). Mortality in surgical patients with IC in ICU was 38.8%. Multivariate analysis showed that factors independently associated with mortality were: patient age ≥60 years (hazard ratio (HR) 1.9, p 0.001), central venous catheter (HR 1.8, p 0.05), corticosteroids (HR 1.5, p 0.03), not receiving systemic antifungal treatment for IC (HR 2.8, p <0.0001), and not removing intravascular lines (HR 1.6, p 0.02).
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Affiliation(s)
- L Klingspor
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - A M Tortorano
- Dipartimento Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - J Peman
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, La Fe University Hospital, Valencia, Spain
| | - B Willinger
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - P Hamal
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - B Sendid
- Département de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Inserm U995, Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Lille, Université Lille Nord de France, Lille, France
| | - A Velegraki
- Mycology Research Laboratory, Department of Microbiology Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - C Kibbler
- Centre of Clinical Microbiology, University College London and Department of Medical Microbiology, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK
| | - J F Meis
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital; Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - R Sabino
- Department of Infectious Diseases, URSZ-Mycology, National Institute of Health Dr Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - M Ruhnke
- Department of Medicine, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Charité Mitte, Berlin, Germany
| | - S Arikan-Akdagli
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Hacettepe University Medical School, Ankara, Turkey
| | - J Salonen
- Department of Medicine Päijät-Häme Central Hospital, Lahti, Finland
| | - I Dóczi
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
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Tortorano AM, Prigitano A, Esposto MC, Arsic Arsenijevic V, Kolarovic J, Ivanovic D, Paripovic L, Klingspor L, Nordøy I, Hamal P, Arikan Akdagli S, Ossi C, Grancini A, Cavanna C, Lo Cascio G, Scarparo C, Candoni A, Caira M, Drogari Apiranthitou M. European Confederation of Medical Mycology (ECMM) epidemiological survey on invasive infections due to Fusarium species in Europe. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2014; 33:1623-30. [DOI: 10.1007/s10096-014-2111-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2014] [Accepted: 04/03/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Prigitano A, Venier V, Cogliati M, De Lorenzis G, Esposto MC, Tortorano AM. Azole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus in the environment of northern Italy, May 2011 to June 2012. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 19:20747. [PMID: 24698139 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es2014.19.12.20747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
In recent years acquired azole resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus has been increasingly reported and a dominant mechanism of resistance (TR34/L98H) was found in clinical and environmental isolates. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of azole resistance in environmental A. fumigatus isolates collected in northern Italy. A. fumigatus grew from 29 of 47 soil samples analysed. Azole-resistant isolates were detected in 13% (6/47) of the soil samples and in 21% (6/29) of the soil samples containing A. fumigatus. High minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of itraconazole (≥16 mg/L) and posaconazole (≥0.5 mg/L) were displayed by nine isolates from six different soil samples, namely apple orchard (1 sample), rose pot compost (2 samples), and cucurbit yields (3 samples). Seven isolates had a MIC=2 mg/L of voriconazole. Seven of nine itraconazole and posaconazole resistant isolates harboured the same TR34/L98H mutation of cyp51A. These findings, together with the occurrence of resistant clinical isolates, suggest that azole resistance should be considered in primary patient care.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Prigitano
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Universita degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
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Esposto MC, Prigitano A, Romeo O, Criseo G, Trovato L, Tullio V, Fadda ME, Tortorano AM. Looking forCandida nivariensisandC. bracarensisamong a large Italian collection ofC. glabrataisolates: results of the FIMUA working group. Mycoses 2012; 56:394-6. [DOI: 10.1111/myc.12026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Tortorano AM, Posteraro B, Viviani MA, Prigitano A, Girmenia C, Lombardi G, Ossi C, Pozzi C, Mirone E, Sanguinetti M, Pagano L. Molecular identification and in vitro antifungal susceptibilities of 28 zygomycetes isolates: FIMUA-ECMM survey of zygomycosis in Italy. J Chemother 2009; 21:363-4. [PMID: 19567361 DOI: 10.1179/joc.2009.21.3.363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
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Pagano L, Valentini CG, Posteraro B, Girmenia C, Ossi C, Pan A, Candoni A, Nosari A, Riva M, Cattaneo C, Rossini F, Fianchi L, Caira M, Sanguinetti M, Gesu GP, Lombardi G, Vianelli N, Stanzani M, Mirone E, Pinsi G, Facchetti F, Manca N, Savi L, Mettimano M, Selva V, Caserta I, Scarpellini P, Morace G, D'Arminio Monforte A, Grossi P, Giudici D, Tortorano AM, Bonini A, Ricci L, Picardi M, Rossano F, Fanci R, Pecile P, Fumagalli L, Ferrari L, Capecchi PL, Romano C, Busca A, Barbui A, Garzia M, Minniti RR, Farina G, Montagna MT, Bruno F, Morelli O, Chierichini A, Placanica PM, Castagnola E, Bandettini R, Giordano S, Monastero R, Tosti ME, Rossi MR, Spedini P, Piane R, Nucci M, Pallavicini F, Bassetti M, Cristini F, LA Sorda M, Viviani M. Zygomycosis in Italy: a survey of FIMUA-ECMM (Federazione Italiana di Micopatologia Umana ed Animale and European Confederation of Medical Mycology). J Chemother 2009; 21:322-9. [PMID: 19567354 DOI: 10.1179/joc.2009.21.3.322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
The aims of the study were to analyze the clinical and epidemiological characteristics and treatments for patients who developed zygomycosis enrolled in Italy during the European Confederation of Medical Mycology of medical mycology survey. This prospective multicenter study was performed between 2004 and 2007 at 49 italian Departments. 60 cases of zygomycosis were enrolled: the median age was 59.5 years (range 1-87), with a prevalence of males (70%). The majority of cases were immunocompromised patients (42 cases, 70%), mainly hematological malignancies (37). Among non-immunocompromised (18 cases, 30%), the main category was represented by patients with penetrating trauma (7/18, 39%). The most common sites of infection were sinus (35%) with/without CNS involvement, lung alone (25%), skin (20%), but in 11 cases (18%) dissemination was observed. According to EORTC criteria, the diagnosis of zygomycosis was proven in 46 patients (77%) and in most of them it was made in vivo (40/46 patients, 87%); in the remaining 14 cases (23%) the diagnosis was probable. 51 patients received antifungal therapy and in 30 of them surgical debridement was also performed. The most commonly used antifungal drug was liposomal amphotericin B (L-AmB), administered in 44 patients: 36 of these patients (82%) responded to therapy. Altogether an attributable mortality rate of 32% (19/60) was registered, which was reduced to 18% in patients treated with L-AmB (8/44). Zygomycosis is a rare and aggressive filamentous fungal infection, still associated with a high mortality rate. This study indicates an inversion of this trend, with a better prognosis and significantly lower mortality than that reported in the literature. It is possible that new extensive, aggressive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, such as the use of L-AmB and surgery, have improved the prognosis of these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Pagano
- Instituto di Ematologia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma.
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Tortorano AM, Prigitano A, Dho G, Biraghi E, Stevens DA, Ghannoum M, Nolard N, Viviani MA. In vitro activity of amphotericin B against Aspergillus terreus isolates from different countries and regions. J Chemother 2009; 20:756-7. [PMID: 19129077 DOI: 10.1179/joc.2008.20.6.756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A M Tortorano
- Department of Public Health-Microbiology-Virology, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy.
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Dadda F, Cofano R, Marzano V, Tortorano AM. [Learning how to face emergencies. A project dealing with first aid aimed at primary and secondary school students]. Ann Ig 2008; 20:465-475. [PMID: 19069252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The authors describe the planning, making and evaluation of a project aimed at primary school students attending their 4th year and at secondary school students attending their 5th year designed to promote first aid procedures in emergency situations. An educational video has been filmed to support these projects.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Dadda
- Universitcà degli Studi di Milano
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Locatelli R, Cofano R, Biraghi E, Tortorano AM. [Quality assessment of health promotion web sites]. Ann Ig 2008; 20:69-76. [PMID: 18478678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The continuous expansion of the use of Internet has determined an increase in the number of web sites, including those related to health promotion. Even if this new tool provides a faster way to find the desired information, the high number of different sites can confuse the user especially when they present inconsistent data. For this reason, according to the principles contained in the Minerva Manual, we have built a template to evaluate the quality of health care related web sites, and we have verified its validity applying it to ten different sites. The results of this analysis show that the attention to the requirements varies according to the target users, the site focus and the sponsoring agency. Finally we have proposed an ideal web site, choosing, for each requirement in the evaluation grid, the approach that we considered best among the ones adopted by the ten examined sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Locatelli
- Corso di Laurea in Assistenza Sanitaria, Universita degli Studi di Milano
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Rea B, Tortorano AM. [Tobacco smoking among medical students of the University of Milano, Italy]. Ann Ig 2006; 18:559-63. [PMID: 17228612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
In order to evaluate smoking habits among the future medical class an anonymous questionnaire about tobacco smoking was submitted to 822 students of the University of Milano in six academic years, from 1998/99 to 2003/04. A total of 184 students (22.4%) were smoker 463 (56.3%) had never smoked and 161 (19.6%) had previously smoked. More than half of these last had quit smoking during the university years. Smoking habits resulted influenced by the habits in the family (parents and brothers) and among the friends. Anti-smoking campaigns among medical students are needed taking into account their future role in health promotion and in prevention of tobacco smoking and its consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Rea
- Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica, Microbiologia, Virologia, Sezione Sanitd Pubblica, Universita degli Studi di Milano
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Tortorano AM, Caspani L, Rigoni AL, Biraghi E, Sicignano A, Viviani MA. Candidosis in the intensive care unit: a 20-year survey. J Hosp Infect 2006; 57:8-13. [PMID: 15142710 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2004.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2003] [Accepted: 01/15/2004] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Deep-seated candidosis is a major problem in critically ill patients. Colonization with candida has been identified as an important independent risk factor for the development of candidaemia. Since the 1980s routine surveillance cultures have been performed on patients admitted for six or more days to the 'E. Vecla' intensive care unit (ICU) of the IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore di Milano. Colonization was observed on admission to the ICU in 59 of 117 (50%) patients in 2000 and 10 others developed colonization during their stay on the unit. A similar colonization rate was found in a survey performed 16 years earlier. The incidence of non-albicans Candida species, however, increased in 2000. In particular, 24 patients were culture positive for Candida glabrata at some point during their hospital stay, whereas this species was isolated from only one patient in 1983-1984. Antifungal susceptibility testing performed by Sensititre Yeast One revealed no resistance among 19 C. albicans strains tested. In contrast, fluconazole resistance was observed in two of 39 (5%) C. glabrata isolates from 23 patients. In the period 1983-2002, 28 candida bloodstream infections were identified and 12 were considered to be ICU-acquired (2.6/1000 hospitalized patients; 0.33/1000 patient days). The low rate of ICU-acquired candidaemia despite the inclusion of severely compromised patients in this study confirms the usefulness of routine mycological surveillance in preventing deep-seated candidosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Tortorano
- Istituto di Igiene e Medicina Preventiva, Università degli Studi-IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore, Milano, Italy.
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Barchiesi F, Tortorano AM, Di Francesco LF, Rigoni A, Giacometti A, Spreghini E, Scalise G, Viviani MA. Genotypic variation and antifungal susceptibilities of Candida pelliculosa clinical isolates. J Med Microbiol 2005; 54:279-285. [PMID: 15713612 DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.45850-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
At the Istituto Ricovero Cura Carattere Scientifico, Ospedale Maggiore di Milano, Italy, Candida pelliculosa accounted for 3.3 and 4.4 % of all Candida species other than Candida albicans collected during 1996 and 1998, respectively. Genetic variability was investigated by electrophoretic karyotyping and inter-repeat PCR, and the susceptibility to five antifungal agents of 46 strains isolated from 37 patients during these 2 years was determined. Combination of the two typing methods yielded 14 different DNA types. Although the majority of DNA types were randomly distributed among different units, one DNA type was significantly more common in patients hospitalized in a given unit compared with those from other wards (P = 0.034), whereas another DNA type was more frequently isolated in patients hospitalized during 1996 than in those hospitalized during 1998 (P = 0.002). Fluconazole, itraconazole and posaconazole MIC90 values were 16, 1 and 4 μg ml−1, respectively. All isolates but three were susceptible in vitro to flucytosine. All isolates were susceptible in vitro to amphotericin B. These data suggest that there are possible relationships among strains of C. pelliculosa, wards and time of isolation. Amphotericin B seems to be the optimal drug therapy in infections due to this yeast species.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Barchiesi
- Istituto di Malattie Infettive e Medicina Pubblica, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Azienda Ospedaliera Umberto Io, Via Conca, 60020, Torrette di Ancona, Ancona, Italy 2Istituto di Igiene e Medicina Preventiva, Università degli Studi di Milano IRCCS, Ospedale Maggiore di Milano, Italy
| | - A M Tortorano
- Istituto di Malattie Infettive e Medicina Pubblica, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Azienda Ospedaliera Umberto Io, Via Conca, 60020, Torrette di Ancona, Ancona, Italy 2Istituto di Igiene e Medicina Preventiva, Università degli Studi di Milano IRCCS, Ospedale Maggiore di Milano, Italy
| | - L Falconi Di Francesco
- Istituto di Malattie Infettive e Medicina Pubblica, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Azienda Ospedaliera Umberto Io, Via Conca, 60020, Torrette di Ancona, Ancona, Italy 2Istituto di Igiene e Medicina Preventiva, Università degli Studi di Milano IRCCS, Ospedale Maggiore di Milano, Italy
| | - A Rigoni
- Istituto di Malattie Infettive e Medicina Pubblica, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Azienda Ospedaliera Umberto Io, Via Conca, 60020, Torrette di Ancona, Ancona, Italy 2Istituto di Igiene e Medicina Preventiva, Università degli Studi di Milano IRCCS, Ospedale Maggiore di Milano, Italy
| | - A Giacometti
- Istituto di Malattie Infettive e Medicina Pubblica, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Azienda Ospedaliera Umberto Io, Via Conca, 60020, Torrette di Ancona, Ancona, Italy 2Istituto di Igiene e Medicina Preventiva, Università degli Studi di Milano IRCCS, Ospedale Maggiore di Milano, Italy
| | - E Spreghini
- Istituto di Malattie Infettive e Medicina Pubblica, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Azienda Ospedaliera Umberto Io, Via Conca, 60020, Torrette di Ancona, Ancona, Italy 2Istituto di Igiene e Medicina Preventiva, Università degli Studi di Milano IRCCS, Ospedale Maggiore di Milano, Italy
| | - G Scalise
- Istituto di Malattie Infettive e Medicina Pubblica, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Azienda Ospedaliera Umberto Io, Via Conca, 60020, Torrette di Ancona, Ancona, Italy 2Istituto di Igiene e Medicina Preventiva, Università degli Studi di Milano IRCCS, Ospedale Maggiore di Milano, Italy
| | - M A Viviani
- Istituto di Malattie Infettive e Medicina Pubblica, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Azienda Ospedaliera Umberto Io, Via Conca, 60020, Torrette di Ancona, Ancona, Italy 2Istituto di Igiene e Medicina Preventiva, Università degli Studi di Milano IRCCS, Ospedale Maggiore di Milano, Italy
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Abstract
Mating type plays an important role in the epidemiology and virulence of Cryptococcus neoformans. The present study designed a multiplex PCR method to distinguish the six mating type patterns (Aa, Da, Aalpha, Dalpha, Aa/Dalpha, and Aalpha/Da) of C. neoformans var. neoformans. PCR amplification identified one fragment for Aa (860 bp), Dalpha (413 bp) and Da (645 bp) strains, two fragments for Aalpha (320 and 400 bp) and Aa/Dalpha (860 and 413 bp) strains, and three fragments (645, 400, 320 bp) for an Aalpha/Da strain. The method appears to be a valid, simple and relatively inexpensive tool for epidemiological and virulence studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- M C Esposto
- Istituto di Igiene e Medicina Preventina, Università degli Studi di Milano, IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore, Milano, Italy
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Freydiere AM, Perry JD, Faure O, Willinger B, Tortorano AM, Nicholson A, Peman J, Verweij PE. Routine use of a commercial test, GLABRATA RTT, for rapid identification of Candida glabrata in six laboratories. J Clin Microbiol 2004; 42:4870-2. [PMID: 15472367 PMCID: PMC522330 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.42.10.4870-4872.2004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
When evaluated in six clinical laboratories from six countries with 1,174 fresh isolates, including 715 Candida glabrata and 459 non-C. glabrata strains, GLABRATA RTT (Fumouze Diagnostics, Levallois Perret, France) yielded an overall sensitivity and an overall specificity of 95.8 and 98.9%, respectively. The results were consistent from one laboratory to another. The five false-positive results corresponded to C. parapsilosis (n = 2), C. tropicalis, C. guilliermondii, and C. lusitaniae. GLABRATA RTT allows a rapid, cost-effective, and reliable presumptive identification of C. glabrata.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Freydiere
- Laboratoire de Bactériologie, Hôpital Debrousse, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France.
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Tortorano AM, Peman J, Bernhardt H, Klingspor L, Kibbler CC, Faure O, Biraghi E, Canton E, Zimmermann K, Seaton S, Grillot R. Epidemiology of candidaemia in Europe: results of 28-month European Confederation of Medical Mycology (ECMM) hospital-based surveillance study. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2004; 23:317-22. [PMID: 15029512 DOI: 10.1007/s10096-004-1103-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 334] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
In order to update the epidemiological and mycological profile of candidaemia in Europe, the European Confederation of Medical Mycology conducted a prospective, sequential, hospital population-based study from September 1997 to December 1999. A total of 2,089 cases were documented by 106 institutions in seven European countries. Rates of candidaemia ranging from 0.20 to 0.38 per 1,000 admissions were reported. Candida albicans was identified in 56% of cases. Non-albicans Candida species were most frequently isolated from patients with haematological malignancies (65%). With increasing age, an increasing incidence of Candida glabrata was seen. The 30-day mortality rate was 37.9%. The survey results underline the burden of candidaemia in a wide range of patient populations, confirm the importance of non- albicans species, and provide baseline data for future surveillance studies at a European level.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Tortorano
- Istituto di Igiene e Medicina Preventiva, Università degli Studi, IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore, Via F. Sforza 35, 20122 Milan, Italy.
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24
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Abstract
The combination of flucytosine and amphotericin B is first choice treatment for active cryptococcosis. Because of innate or acquired resistance of Cryptococcus neoformans to flucytosine, in vitro testing is mandatory. Yeast nitrogen base (YNB) at pH 7.0 is the recommended medium for the broth microdilution test (NCCLS M27-A) and for the E-test. In order to verify if minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were able to predict treatment outcome, the susceptibility of 24 isolates from 21 patients treated with flucytosine alone or in combination was tested by the broth microdilution, agar dilution and E-test using YNB either at pH 7.0 or at pH 5.4. Only those MICs obtained on YNB pH 5.4 proved to correlate with treatment outcome. The present study suggests that in vitro susceptibility to flucytosine of C. neoformans isolates should be evaluated on YNB pH 5.4 and the test should be standardized accordingly.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Viviani
- Istituto di Igiene e Medicina Preventiva, Università degli Studi-IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore, Milano, Italy.
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25
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Symoens F, Burnod J, Lebeau B, Viviani MA, Piens MA, Tortorano AM, Nolard N, Chapuis F, Grillot R. Hospital-acquired Aspergillus fumigatus infection: can molecular typing methods identify an environmental source? J Hosp Infect 2002; 52:60-7. [PMID: 12372328 DOI: 10.1053/jhin.2002.1263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus infection in hospitalized immunocompromised patients often raises suspicion regarding the potential for hospital acquisition. Hospital staff have an important responsibility in implementing preventive measures, especially since the advent of current legislation concerning hospital-acquired infections. There have been high expectations that molecular typing methods might determine the source of Aspergillus fumigatus, a ubiquitous mould. The aim of the present epidemiological study, was therefore, to identify the origin(s) of Aspergillus infection in six well-documented patients. All the clinical strains (N=33), and those from hospital (N=14) and home environments (N=34) were isolated according to a standardized protocol and typed by sequence-specific DNA primer analysis. The results confirmed the huge biodiversity of the A. fumigatus population, and consequently the difficulty in ascertaining a hospital source of the infection, as opposed to infections due to other Aspergillus species less frequently encountered.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Symoens
- Scientific Institute of Public Health-Louis Pasteur, Mycology Section, Brussels, Belgium.
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26
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Tortorano AM, Biraghi E, Astolfi A, Ossi C, Tejada M, Farina C, Perin S, Bonaccorso C, Cavanna C, Raballo A, Grossi A. European Confederation of Medical Mycology (ECMM) prospective survey of candidaemia: report from one Italian region. J Hosp Infect 2002; 51:297-304. [PMID: 12183145 DOI: 10.1053/jhin.2002.1261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
An ECMM epidemiological prospective survey of candidaemia was performed in one Italian region (Lombardy; population: 8 924 870) by the National Society of Medical Mycology (FIMUA) from September 1997 to December 1999. In total, 569 episodes were reported with an overall rate of 0.38/1000 admissions, 4.4/100000 patient days. Predisposing factors included presence of an intravascular catheter (89%), antibiotic treatment (88%), surgery (56%), intensive care (45%), solid tumour (28%), steroid treatment (15%), haematological malignancy (7%), HIV infection (6%), fetal immaturity (4%). Mucous membrane colonization preceded candidaemia in 83% of patients. Candida albicans was identified in 58% of cases, followed by Candida parapsilosis (15%), Candida glabrata (13%), Candida tropicalis (6%). Septic shock occurred in 95 patients. Crude mortality was 35%, the highest in C. tropicalis fungaemia (44%), the elderly (64%) and solid tumour cancer patients (43%). Intravascular catheter removal was associated with higher survival rate (71 vs. 47%). This survey underscores the importance of candidaemia in hospital settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Tortorano
- Istituto di Igiene e Medicina Preventiva, Università-IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore, Milano, Italy.
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27
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Viviani MA, Esposto MC, Cogliati M, Tortorano AM. FLUCYTOSINE AND CRYPTOCOCCOSIS. WHICH IN VITRO TESTING IS PREDICTIVE OF OUTCOME? Mycoses 2002. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0507.2002.tb04749.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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29
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Tortorano AM, Dannaoui E, Meletiadis J, Mallie M, Viviani MA, Piens MA, Rigoni AL, Bastide JM, Grillot R. Effect of medium composition on static and cidal activity of amphotericin B, itraconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole and terbinafine against Aspergillus fumigatus: a multicenter study. J Chemother 2002; 14:246-52. [PMID: 12120878 DOI: 10.1179/joc.2002.14.3.246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
The effect of the medium composition on the fungistatic (MIC) and fungicidal (MLC) activity of amphotericin B, itraconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole and terbinafine against four Aspergillus fumigatus strains has been investigated by four European laboratories. MICs were determined by broth microdilution, using RPMI 1640 and Antibiotic Medium 3 (AM3), three times in three independent determinations by the four laboratories. MLCs were determined for the three independent determinations by the four laboratories, subculturing 100 microl from each well showing no visible growth after 48 hours. Except for a 2-dilution difference observed in three cases, no differences were observed between MICs determined on the two media. In contrast, a 3- to 6-dilution discrepancy between the MLCs was observed for the azoles. Endpoints on RPMI were higher than those on AM3. A 1-2 dilution difference was noted between both the endpoints of amphotericin B and of terbinafine. The highest inter- and intra-laboratory agreements were reached on AM3. The azoles showed a medium-dependent fungicidal activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Tortorano
- Istituto di Igiene e Medicina Preventiva, Università degli Studi-IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore, Milano, Italy.
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30
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Marques SA, Robles AM, Tortorano AM, Tuculet MA, Negroni R, Mendes RP. Mycoses associated with AIDS in the Third World. Med Mycol 2001; 38 Suppl 1:269-79. [PMID: 11204155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite advances in diagnosis and treatment, the epidemiological status of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is far from under control in most of the developing world. Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia and India show increased rates of new infections. In Latin America and the Caribbean there were 1.6 million estimated cases of HIV-infected patients at the end of 1997. Fungal diseases have been one of the most relevant diagnoses in relation to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Infections due to Candida species and Cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans are common worldwide. Histoplasma capsulatum, Coccidioides immitis and Penicillium marneffei are important causes of disease in endemic areas. Infection due to Sporothrix schenckii, Blastomyces dermatitidis and Paracoccidioides brasiliensis are uncommon even where they are endemic. Phaeohyphomycetes, hyalohyphomycetes and zygomycetes are still rare as a cause of disease among AIDS patients. However, agents pertaining to these groups, such as Aspergillus spp., have an increasing incidence. Superficial mycoses due to dermatophytes have special features from epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic points of view.
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Affiliation(s)
- S A Marques
- Departamento de Dermatologia, Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu-UNESP, Brazil.
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31
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Tortorano AM, Barchiesi F, Manso E, Montagna MT, Farina C, Ferrari L, Raballo A, Grancini A, Lombardi G. Is a kit for identification of clinical yeasts correctly evaluated when released onto the market? Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2000; 19:567-9. [PMID: 10968336 DOI: 10.1007/s100960000309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A M Tortorano
- Istituto di Igiene e Medicina Preventiva, Università degli Studi, Milano, Italy.
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32
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Cogliati M, Allaria M, Tortorano AM, Viviani MA. Genotyping Cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans with specific primers designed from PCR-fingerprinting bands sequenced using a modified PCR-based strategy. Med Mycol 2000; 38:97-103. [PMID: 10817225 DOI: 10.1080/mmy.38.2.97.103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans can be subdivided into six genotypes (VN1-VN6) based on different combinations of four major bands (420, 475, 540 and 800 bp) obtained by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) fingerprinting using the (GACA)4 primer. The aim of this study was to identify specific primers able to amplify these bands. A modified PCR-based sequencing strategy was adopted to overcome the limitations of using (GACA)4 as a single cycle sequencing primer. The original bands, made up of amplicons with two terminal (GACA)4 sequences, were digested with five restriction enzymes. Digestion products yielding two or three fragments were selected. Each fragment was expected to have no more than one terminal (GACA)4 sequence, making cycle sequencing possible. Fragments were purified and sequenced with the (GACA)4 primer. New primers specific for each of the four major bands were then designed and the remaining regions were sequenced using both purified bands and PCR-fingerprinting products as template. These primers were used to amplify the genomic DNA of 12 C. neoformans strains and five strains of other yeast species. The new primers, used as separate pairs or in a mixture of all pairs, amplified the expected bands only in C. neoformans var. neoformans strains, confirming the species specificity of the bands selected for molecular typing of this yeast.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Cogliati
- Istituto di Igiene e Medicina Preventiva, Università degli Studi - IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore, Milano, Italy
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33
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Cogliati M, Allaria M, Tortorano AM, Viviani MA. Genotyping Cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans with specific primers designed from PCR-fingerprinting bands sequenced using a modified PCR-based strategy. Med Mycol 2000. [DOI: 10.1080/714030933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
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Cogliati M, Tortorano AM, Viviani MA. [Molecular typing technics in the epidemiological study of cryptococcosis]. Ann Ig 1999; 11:497-500. [PMID: 10596442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- M Cogliati
- Istituto di Igiene e Medicina Preventiva, Università degli Studi, IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore di Milano
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37
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Barchiesi F, Tortorano AM, Di Francesco LF, Cogliati M, Scalise G, Viviani MA. In-vitro activity of five antifungal agents against uncommon clinical isolates of Candida spp. J Antimicrob Chemother 1999; 43:295-9. [PMID: 11252339 DOI: 10.1093/jac/43.2.295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A broth microdilution method and an agar dilution method were used for testing fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, flucytosine and amphotericin B against 98 clinical isolates belonging to seven species of Candida. The approximate rank order of fluconazole MICs was Candida lusitaniae approximately Candida kefyr < Candida famata approximately Candida guilliermondii < Candida pelliculosa approximately C. lipolytica approximately Candida inconspicua. Candida lypolitica and C. pelliculosa were the species least susceptible to itraconazole and ketoconazole. Flucytosine MICs revealed the highest prevalence of resistant strains among C. lipolytica and C. lusitaniae. All isolates were susceptible to amphotericin B.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Barchiesi
- Istituto di Malattie Infettive e Medicina Pubblica, Università degli Studi di Ancona, Italy
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38
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Tortorano AM, Viviani MA, Barchiesi F, Arzeni D, Rigoni AL, Cogliati M, Compagnucci P, Scalise G. Comparison of three methods for testing azole susceptibilities of Candida albicans strains isolated sequentially from oral cavities of AIDS patients. J Clin Microbiol 1998; 36:1578-83. [PMID: 9620380 PMCID: PMC104880 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.36.6.1578-1583.1998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Three susceptibility testing procedures were compared to determine fluconazole, itraconazole, and ketoconazole MICs against 47 Candida albicans strains isolated sequentially from the oral cavities of five AIDS patients undergoing azole therapy. They included the broth microdilution method (BM), performed according to the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards' tentative standard, the agar dilution method (AD), and the Etest; the latter two tests were performed both in Casitone agar (AD-Cas and Etest-Cas) and in RPMI (AD-RPMI and Etest-RPMI). Twenty-four- and 48-h MICs obtained by AD and Etest were compared with 48-h MICs obtained by BM. The MICs of all the azoles determined by BM were usually lower than those obtained by the other methods, mainly due to different reading criteria. In order to assess the most appropriate way of evaluating the agreement of MICs obtained by different methods with those produced by the proposed reference method (BM), we used the mean differences calculated according to Bland and Altman's method. Comparison of fluconazole MICs obtained by BM and AD-Cas yielded a mean difference of 3, and the percentages of agreement within +/-2 dilutions were 98 and 100% at 24 and 48 h, respectively. For ketoconazole and itraconazole MICs, lower mean differences were noted, and agreement ranged from 96 to 100%. Agreement between the AD-RPMI and BM results was poor for all azoles, and an increase in MICs was always observed between the 1st- and 2nd-day readings. Similarly, Etest-Cas gave better agreement with BM than did Etest-RPMI for all the azoles. BM, AD-Cas, and Etest-Cas each demonstrated a progressive increase in fluconazole MICs against strains isolated sequentially from a given patient, in accordance with the decreased clinical response to fluconazole.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Tortorano
- Istituto di Igiene e Medicina Preventiva, Università degli Studi di Milano-IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore di Milano, Milan, Italy
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39
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Affiliation(s)
- M Maccario
- Divisione di Nefrologia e Dialisi, IRCCS, Ospedale Maggiore di Milano, Italy
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40
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Tortorano AM, Viviani MA, Rigoni AL, Cogliati M, Roverselli A, Pagano A. Prevalence of serotype D in Cryptococcus neoformans isolates from HIV positive and HIV negative patients in Italy. Mycoses 1997; 40:297-302. [PMID: 9476513 DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0507.1997.tb00235.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans strains isolated from 207 HIV positive and HIV negative patients hospitalized in Northern Italy were serotyped by slide agglutination. One Brazilian HIV negative woman was infected by var. gattii serotype B and all the other patients by var. neoformans, serotype D in 71%, serotype A in 24.6% and serotype AD in 3.4%. No difference was observed between subjects with serotypes A and D in HIV coinfection, exposure categories for AIDS, age, sex, and CD4 count of HIV positive patients. Meningeal and respiratory tract involvements and prostatic reservoir occurred with comparable frequency in AIDS patients infected by serotypes A and D. Skin lesions were observed only in serotype D infections, occurring in 12.6% of HIV positive and 58.3% of HIV negative patients infected by this serotype. Serotype A was found less susceptible to fluconazole than serotype D: 53.7% of serotype A strains had a MIC > or = 25 micrograms ml-1 compared to 17.7% of the serotype D isolates. On the other hand, both serotypes were highly susceptible to itraconazole.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Tortorano
- Istituto di Igiene e Medicina Preventiva, Università degli Studi di Milano, IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore, Italy
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41
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Viviani MA, Wen H, Roverselli A, Caldarelli-Stefano R, Cogliati M, Ferrante P, Tortorano AM. Identification by polymerase chain reaction fingerprinting of Cryptococcus neoformans serotype AD. J Med Vet Mycol 1997; 35:355-60. [PMID: 9402529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Seventy-three Cryptococcus neoformans isolates and eight other yeast strains were studied. Fingerprints produced by priming with (GACA)4 differentiated C. neoformans from all other yeasts tested and identified the five C. neoformans serotypes. Four major bands of molecular size 800, 540, 475 and 410 bp were recognized for serotypes A, AD and D. Two of them were specific for serotype A and the other two for serotype D isolates. Serotype AD strains were identified by five different genotypic patterns in which at least one of the two bands specific for serotype A and D were present in different combinations. On repeated and simultaneously performed genotype and serotype testing of nine strains, the genotypic pattern did not change, whereas serotyping was unstable in three cases. PCR-fingerprinting using (GACA)4 as a primer proved more stable than serology in discriminating among C. neoformans serotypes A, D and AD and was able to distinguish among serotype AD strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Viviani
- Istituto di Igiene e Medicina Preventiva, Università degli Studi di Milano, IRCCS-Ospedale Maggiore di Milano, Italy.
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42
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Mondon P, Brenier MP, Symoens F, Rodriguez E, Coursange E, Chaib F, Lebeau B, Piens MA, Tortorano AM, Mallié M, Chapuis F, Carlotti A, Villard J, Viviani MA, Nolard N, Bastide JM, Ambroise-Thomas P, Grillot R. Molecular typing of Aspergillus fumigatus strains by sequence-specific DNA primer (SSDP) analysis. FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol 1997; 17:95-102. [PMID: 9061355 DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-695x.1997.tb01001.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
A PCR typing method has been developed and tested to investigate the polymorphism of clinical strains of Aspergillus fumigatus. Firstly, the DNA fragments from random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) patterns of nine epidemiologically and geographically non-related monosporal strains of A. fumigatus were cloned and sequenced. The pairs of five sequence-specific DNA primers (SSDP), characteristic of the 5' and 3' extremities of the RAPD products, were then used in high stringency PCR to type 43 clinical strains of A. fumigatus from 13 patients, according to the presence or absence of a single amplified band. This original approach, which uses the advantages of PCR, has made it possible to overcome the difficulties resulting from the low stringency amplification. The SSDP analysis of 51 A. fumigatus strains (9 unrelated monosporal strains and 43 clinical strains from 13 patients) can be classed into 22 different types with a high reproducibility and a high level of discrimination (D = 0.96). The results suggest that seven lung transplant patients with necrotizing aspergillosis, bronchitis aspergillosis and bronchial colonization were infected by multiple strain genotypes, whereas three patients with invasive aspergillosis seem to have been infected by a single strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Mondon
- Laboratoire Relation Hôte-Agents Pathogènes, UPRES-A CNRS 5082, La Tronche, France
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43
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Rodriguez E, De Meeüs T, Mallie M, Renaud F, Symoens F, Mondon P, Piens MA, Lebeau B, Viviani MA, Grillot R, Nolard N, Chapuis F, Tortorano AM, Bastide JM. Multicentric epidemiological study of Aspergillus fumigatus isolates by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis. J Clin Microbiol 1996; 34:2559-68. [PMID: 8880520 PMCID: PMC229318 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.34.10.2559-2568.1996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The genotypes of 63 isolates of Aspergillus fumigatus obtained from three hospitals in different geographical areas and of eight culture collection strains were determined by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis. Twelve of the 17 enzymatic loci studied were polymorphic, giving rise to 48 different electrophoretic types. The existence of fixed multilocus genotypes, significant heterozygote deficits and excesses at the different loci, and linkage disequilibria within subpopulations strongly suggests a clonal reproduction mode for A. fumigatus. Numerical analysis of the comparison and disposition of the different electrophoretic types demonstrates a significant genetic differentiation between the three sampling sites. However, no correlation could be found between geographical distances and genetic differentiation. On account of the multiple discriminatory markers, multilocus enzyme electrophoresis typing seems to be a very powerful tool for epidemiological and reproductive mode studies of A. fumigatus.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Rodriguez
- Laboratoire d'Immunologie et Parasitologie, Faculté de Pharmacie, Montpellier, France
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44
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Cofrancesco E, Viviani MA, Boschetti C, Tortorano AM, Balzani A, Castagnone D. Treatment of chronic disseminated Geotrichum capitatum infection with high cumulative dose of colloidal amphotericin B and itraconazole in a leukaemia patient. Mycoses 1995; 38:377-84. [PMID: 8569813 DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0507.1995.tb00068.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
A case of disseminated granulomatous Geotrichum capitatum infection is reported. A young patient with blastic crisis of chronic myelogenous leukaemia developed septicaemia caused by G. capitatum in the post-chemotherapy aplastic phase. Subsequently, disseminated infection of the liver, spleen, pancreas and kidneys was observed. Treatment with high cumulative doses of a lipid formulation of amphotericin B (Amphocil, 20.2 g in 11 weeks) and maintenance with itraconazole resolved clinical manifestations of G. capitatum granulomatous disseminated disease and controlled reactivation of the infection during the two subsequent courses of cytotoxic chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Cofrancesco
- Istituto di Medicina Interna, University of Milano, Italy
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Viviani MA, Rizzardini G, Tortorano AM, Fasan M, Capetti A, Roverselli AM, Gringeri A, Suter F. Lipid-based amphotericin B in the treatment of cryptococcosis. Infection 1994; 22:137-42. [PMID: 7915255 DOI: 10.1007/bf01739025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Amphotericin B is the only antifungal drug which, despite its dose-limiting toxicity, can be given intravenously when an aggressive treatment is required. In an attempt to reduce the drug toxicity while retaining its therapeutic efficacy, new formulations of amphotericin B have been developed. The most promising have employed lipid vehicles such as liposomes. Three lipid-based amphotericin B formulations have been developed by pharmaceutical companies and are under active clinical investigation. Efficacy and safety data of these derivatives in animals and humans are reviewed, with particular concern to cryptococcal infection. The authors' experience with a small unilamellar liposomal amphotericin B formulation, AmBisome, in the primary therapy of cryptococcosis is reported. Nine AIDS patients affected with cryptococcosis, seven of whom had meningitis, were given AmBisome (3 mg/kg/day) for 3-6 weeks. Complete response was obtained in six patients, marked improvement in two, and failure in one. AmBisome was well tolerated and shortened the time to clinical and mycological response suggesting a further improvement in the management of cryptococcosis in AIDS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Viviani
- Laboratorio di Micologia Medica, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
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46
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Viviani MA, Tortorano AM, Rizzardini G, Quirino T, Kaufman L, Padhye AA, Ajello L. Treatment and serological studies of an Italian case of penicilliosis marneffei contracted in Thailand by a drug addict infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. Eur J Epidemiol 1993; 9:79-85. [PMID: 8472804 DOI: 10.1007/bf00463094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
A case of disseminated penicilliosis marneffei, the first to be diagnosed in Italy, is described in a male HIV-positive drug addict. The patient had visited Thailand several times in the two years prior to his hospitalization. The presenting signs were fever, productive cough, facial skin papules and pustules, nodules on both thumbs and oropharyngeal candidiasis. Penicillium marneffei was isolated from a series of blood specimens with the lysis centrifugation procedure. Septate, yeast-like cells were observed in histological sections of the nodules and sputum smears. The patient was treated for 6 weeks with amphotericin B (total dosage 1,400 mg) and flucytosine (150 mg/kg/die) for the first 3 weeks. Prompt clinical improvement and sterilization of all biological specimens were attained. Itraconazole was administered as maintenance therapy (400 mg/die for the first month and 200 mg afterward). During the follow-up period, no relapse was observed. The patient, however, did succumb to a variety of non-mycotic infections and died nine months after start of therapy. At autopsy, P. marneffei was not detected in his tissues. Serological studies were performed with a micro-immunodiffusion procedure using a mycelial culture filtrate antigen of P. marneffei. Sera taken early in the course of the disease gave positive antibody reactions. Whereas sera taken 3-5 months following therapy were negative. All known cases of penicilliosis marneffei in bamboo rats and in humans among the inhabitants and visitors to the endemic areas of P. marneffei in South East Asia and Indonesia are summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Viviani
- Istituto di Igiene e Medicina Preventiva, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
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47
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Cofrancesco E, Boschetti C, Viviani MA, Bargiggia C, Tortorano AM, Cortellaro M, Zanussi C. Efficacy of liposomal amphotericin B (AmBisome) in the eradication of Fusarium infection in a leukaemic patient. Haematologica 1992; 77:280-3. [PMID: 1427436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
We recently succeeded in eradicating a Fusarium infection by treatment with liposomal amphotericin B (L-AmB). The patient, a 22-year-old man with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), developed fever and diffuse cutaneous maculopapular necrotising nodules during post-chemotherapy neutropenia. Fusarium verticilloides was isolated from the skin, and hyphae were observed on direct microscopy. Despite increased WBC and amphotericin B (AmB) treatment (0.7 mg/kg/day for 11 days), he remained febrile and a chest X-ray revealed pulmonary lesions. Fusarium infection was confirmed by bronchial aspirate. AmB was increased to 1 mg/kg/day, and continued for 16 days (total dose 1630 mg). A slight improvement was observed at tomography, but nephrotoxicity developed. Treatment was changed to L-AmB (3 mg/kg/day). The patient received this drug for 20 days (total dose of 3850 mg) with complete regression of the pulmonary lesions. No adverse event occurred, and nephrotoxicity resolved. The patient was discharged from hospital cured of the Fusarium infection and in clinical and haematological remission. No relapse of fusariosis occurred, despite additional courses of intensive chemotherapy. Ambisome could represent an important advance in antifungal treatment since it allows aggressive treatment and eradication of mycoses refractory to conventional therapy while avoiding renal toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Cofrancesco
- Istituto di Medicina Interna, Università di Milano, Italy
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48
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Viviani MA, Tortorano AM, Malaspina C, Colledan M, Paone G, Rossi G, Bordone G, Pagano A. Surveillance and treatment of liver transplant recipients for candidiasis and aspergillosis. Eur J Epidemiol 1992; 8:433-6. [PMID: 1397207 DOI: 10.1007/bf00158579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Between June 1988 and May 1991 88 orthotopic liver transplants and 1 liver and pancreas transplant were performed at the Liver Transplantation Department of the Ospedale Maggiore of Milan. All the patients underwent mycological surveillance and received antifungal prophylaxis with oral amphotericin B (6000 mg/day) or oral or intravenous fluconazole (200 mg/day) from the time of their transplant. The incidence of Candida colonization was 67%. Fluconazole was superior to oral amphotericin B in the treatment of C. albicans colonization (9/9 vs 6/15), but less effective in the treatment of colonization by other Candida spp. (0/3 vs 3/3). Deep-seated candidiasis developed in 5 patients, caused by C. albicans in 4 cases and C. krusei in 1. C. albicans infection resolved rapidly with fluconazole in 2 subjects, with intravenous amphotericin B alone in 1, and with amphotericin B plus flucytosine in the other. On the contrary, C. krusei infection did not respond to treatment with amphotericin B combined with flucytosine. Aspergillosis was diagnosed in 11 patients, of whom 4 died from invasive aspergillosis, despite 15 and 26 days of amphotericin B treatment in 2. In another patient invasive aspergillosis, diagnosed a few hours before retransplantation, improved with liposomal amphotericin B, but this man died from cytomegalovirus infection one month later. Aspergillosis was eradicated by itraconazole in 4 other patients and by topical amphotericin B in 2 whose infection was localized to surgical wound.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Viviani
- Istituto di Igiene e Medicina Preventiva, Università degli Studi di Milano, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Italy
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Viviani MA, Cofrancesco E, Boschetti C, Tortorano AM, Cortellaro M. Eradication of Fusarium infection in a leukopenic patient treated with liposomal amphotericin B. Mycoses 1991; 34:255-6. [PMID: 1795723 DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0507.1991.tb00654.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M A Viviani
- Instituto di Igiene, Università di Milano, Italy
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50
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Fasan M, Gubertini G, Cargnel A, Vigevani GM, Rizzardini G, Capetti A, Vaglia A, Grancini A, Malaspina C, Tortorano AM. [Primary treatment of cryptococcosis in AIDS: itraconazole in single dose or combined with 5-fluorocytosine]. G Ital Chemioter 1991; 38:199-200. [PMID: 1365593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- M Fasan
- II Divisione Malattie Infettive, Ospedale L. Sacco, Milano
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