Epidemiology of Candidemia, Candiduria and Emerging Candidozyma (Candida) auris Across Gulf Cooperative Council Countries and Yemen in the Arabian Peninsula.

Candida infections represent a major component of invasive and non-invasive mycoses globally, including the countries in the Arabian Peninsula. In this review, we present epidemiological features and trends, clinical manifestations, species distribution, antifungal susceptibility, and outcomes available for candidemia and candiduria in six countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Yemen, all located in the Arabian Peninsula. We discuss gaps in knowledge and provide recommendations for improving various aspects for better management of infections by these fungal pathogens.

Galactomannan detection in sputum samples of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A promising marker for diagnosis of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis?

Background And Purpose: Diagnosing chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) is challenging due to nonspecific symptoms, variable radiological findings, and limited mycological evidences. While galactomannan (GM) testing has been validated in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL) for invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA), its usefulness in sputum samples for CPA remains unclear. This study aimed to determine an appropriate GM cut-off level in sputum samples and its performance in diagnosis of CPA.

Global guideline for the diagnosis and management of candidiasis: an initiative of the ECMM in cooperation with ISHAM and ASM.

Candida species are the predominant cause of fungal infections in patients treated in hospital, contributing substantially to morbidity and mortality. Candidaemia and other forms of invasive candidiasis primarily affect patients who are immunocompromised or critically ill. In contrast, mucocutaneous forms of candidiasis, such as oral thrush and vulvovaginal candidiasis, can occur in otherwise healthy individuals.

Genetic mutations in Cryptococcus neoformans pyrimidine salvage pathway enzymes contribute to reduced susceptibility against 5-fluorocytosine.

Cryptococcal meningitis is a high-mortality infection. Adding 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) to its treatment improves outcomes, but resistance to 5-FC presents a significant challenge. We conducted whole-genome sequencing on seven C.

The Rising Threat of Mucormycosis: Oman's Experience Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Mucormycosis is a rare, severe fungal infection mainly affecting immunocompromised individuals. Because of limited data on its epidemiology in Oman, we present this national, multicentric, retrospective review that includes all cases of proven mucormycosis between 2006 and 2022 in Oman. There were 51 cases of mucormycosis reported in Oman.

Fusarium Keratitis: A Systematic Review (1969 to 2023).

Background: Mycotic keratitis (MK) represents a corneal infection, with Fusarium species identified as the leading cause. Fusarium is a genus of filamentous fungi commonly found in soil and plants. While many Fusarium species are harmless, some can cause serious infections in humans and animals, particularly Fusarium keratitis, that can lead to severe ocular infections, prevalent cause of monocular blindness in tropical and subtropical regions of the world.

antifungal activity of biosynthesized selenium nanoparticles using plant extracts and six comparators against clinical strains.

Background And Purpose: species are commonly resistant to many antifungal drugs. The limited therapeutic options available have led to a surge of research efforts aimed at discovering novel antifungal compounds in recent decades. This study aimed to assess the antifungal activity of plant-based biosynthesized selenium nanoparticles (Se NPs) and six comparators against a set of clinical strains.

Evolutionary trends in antifungal resistance: a meta-analysis.

Unlabelled: The present paper includes a meta-analysis of literature data on 318 species of fungi belonging to 34 orders in their response to 8 antifungal agents (amphotericin B, caspofungin, fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole, terbinafine, and voriconazole). Main trends of MIC results at the ordinal level were visualized. European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing and Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) clinical breakpoints were used as the staff gauge to evaluate MIC values ranging from resistance to susceptibility, which were subsequently compared with a phylogenetic tree of the fungal kingdom.

Fusariosis in burn patients: A systematic review of case reports.

Burns can cause skin damage, facilitating the entry of fungi and other microorganisms into the body, leading to infections. Fusarium is a fungus capable of infecting individuals with burn injuries. Diagnosing and treating Fusarium infections in burn patients can be challenging due to the manifestation of nonspecific symptoms.

Invasive fungal infections in children with leukemia in a tertiary hospital in Oman: An eight-year review.

Background And Purpose: Invasive fungal disease (IFD) is a common and serious consequence of leukemia in children and the incidence of these infections has increased due to chemotherapy. This study aimed to present the epidemiology of IFD in a cohort of children with leukemia from a tertiary reference institution in Oman.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective study of IFDs in pediatric patients below 13 years of age with newly diagnosed or relapsed leukemia was conducted at the Royal Hospital in Muscat, Oman.

Disseminated Basidiobolomycosis Caused by Basidiobolus omanensis in a Child with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). Case Report and Literature Review.

Basidiobolomycosis is an uncommon fungal infection caused by the genus Basidiobolus. In immunocompetent children, it usually causes cutaneous infection and rarely affects the gastrointestinal tract, and it is extremely rare for the disease to spread. The present study reports the first case of disseminated basidiobolomycosis caused by Basidiobolus omanensis in a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who died as a result of uncontrolled infection and multi-organ failure despite surgical and antifungal therapy with L-AMB and voriconazole.

Evaluation of colonization index, molecular identification, and antifungal susceptibility pattern of species isolated from critically ill pediatric patients: A single-center study in Iran.

Background And Purpose: Given the high mortality rate of invasive candidiasis in hospitalized pediatric patients, it is crucial to establish a predictive system to achieve early diagnosis and treatment of patients who are likely to benefit from early antifungal treatment. This study aimed to assess the colonization index, species distribution, and antifungal susceptibility pattern of strains isolated from pediatric patients with high colonization index (CI).

Materials And Methods: This study was carried out at the Children's Medical Center in Tehran-Iran.

Onychomycosis due to Fusarium species in different continents, literature review on diagnosis and treatment.

Fusarium species are an emerging cause of onychomycosis, and the number of cases has dramatically increased in recent decades worldwide. This review presents an overview of the onychomycosis cases caused by Fusarium species and diagnosis and treatment that have been reported in the literature. The most common causative agent of onychomycosis is F.

Potential Inhibitory Effect of Miltefosine against Terbinafine-Resistant .

Several prolonged and significant outbreaks of dermatophytosis caused by , a new emerging terbinafine-resistant species, have been ongoing in India in recent years, and have since spread to various countries outside Asia. Miltefosine, an alkylphosphocholine, is the most recently approved drug for the treatment of both visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis. Miltefosine in vitro activity against terbinafine-resistant and susceptible / species complex, including , is limited.

Antifungal activity of miltefosine against both azole-susceptible and -resistant Aspergillus strains.

Miltefosine, an alkylphosphocholine, has been approved recently for the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis. Miltefosine has shown promise as a treatment for paracoccidioidomycosis, and has mixed activity against other fungi and yeast. There are limited data on the in-vitro activity of miltefosine against azole-resistant and -susceptible Aspergillus spp.

In vitro antifungal susceptibility profile of Iranian Fusarium isolates: Emphasising on the potent inhibitory effect of efinaconazole compared to other drugs.

Background: Fusarium species are opportunistic human pathogens that remarkably cause fungal infections ranging from superficial to fatal invasive disseminated infections. Fusarium species are notoriously resistant to the majority of antifungal agents.

Objectives: Therefore, detailed studies regarding in vitro susceptibility are required and may lead to a better prognosis of severe infections.

Otomycosis: The foremost aetiological agent causing otitis externa and the antifungal susceptibility pattern in North-Western Iran.

Background: Otomycosis is considered a recurring fungal ear infection. The external auditory canal provides an appropriate and optimal situation for fungal growth.

Objectives: The study aimed to identify the causative agents of otomycosis and determine corresponding antifungal drug susceptibility patterns in north-western Iran.

Initial Results of the International Efforts in Screening New Agents against .

Background: is an emergent fungal pathogen and a global concern, mostly due to its resistance to many currently available antifungal drugs.

Objective: Thus, in response to this challenge, we evaluated the in vitro activity of potential new drugs, diphenyl diselenide (PhSe) and nikkomycin Z (nikZ), alone and in association with currently available antifungals (azoles, echinocandins, and polyenes) against .

Methods: Clinical isolates of were tested in vitro.

In Vitro Antifungal Susceptibility Profile of Miltefosine against a Collection of Azole and Echinocandins Resistant Strains.

species are filamentous fungi that cause a variety of infections in humans. Because they are commonly resistant to many antifungal drugs currently available in clinical settings, research into alternative targets in fungal cells and therapeutic approaches is required. The antifungal activity of miltefosine and four comparators, amphotericin B, voriconazole, itraconazole, and caspofungin, were tested in vitro against a collection of susceptible and resistant clinical ( = 68) and environmental ( = 42) isolates.

Onychomycosis Caused by Species.

Onychomycosis is a nail fungal infection that produces nail discolouration, thickness, and separation from the nail bed. The species of the genus that cause onychomycosis are emerging and the number of cases has increased throughout the years. Microscopic examination, as well as cultures, are required for the accurate diagnosis of onychomycosis.