Environmental and bioclimatic factors influencing yeasts and molds distribution along European shores.

The present study employed data collected during the Mycosands survey to investigate the environmental factors influencing yeasts and molds distribution along European shores applying a species distribution modelling approach. Occurrence data were compared to climatic datasets (temperature, precipitation, and solar radiation), soil datasets (chemical and physical properties), and water datasets (temperature, salinity, and chlorophyll-a concentration) downloaded from web databases. Analyses were performed by MaxEnt software. Results suggested a different probability of distribution of yeasts and molds along European shores. Yeasts seem to tolerate low temperatures better during winter than molds and this reflects a higher suitability for the Northern European coasts. This difference is more evident considering suitability in waters. Both distributions of molds and yeasts are influenced by basic soil pH, probably because acidic soils are more favorable to bacterial growth. Soils with high nitrogen concentrations are not suitable for fungal growth, which, in contrast, are optimal for plant growth, favored by this environment. Finally, molds show affinity with soil rich in nickel and yeasts with soils rich in cadmium resulting in a distribution mainly at the mouths of European rivers or lagoons, where these metals accumulate in river sediments.

Mycosands: Fungal diversity and abundance in beach sand and recreational waters - Relevance to human health.

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.

Antifungal susceptibility, species distribution and risk factors associated with mortality of invasive candidiasis in children in Turkey: A six-year retrospective, single-centre study.

Invasive candidiasis (IC) is a life-threatening fungal infection with high morbidity and mortality. In this study, we aimed to investigate the Candida species distribution and antifungal drug susceptibility and to identify the risk factors associated with IC mortality in children. We conducted a retrospective, single-centre study of paediatric IC in patients from a tertiary care hospital in Turkey between January 2013 and February 2019. A total of 56 Candida isolates underwent antifungal susceptibility testing performed by Sensititre YeastOne YO10 panel, and the demographic and clinical data of 65 patients were examined during the study period. The most commonly isolated species was Candida albicans in 30 patients (46%), followed by C. parapsilosis in 25 patients (38%) and C. tropicalis in three patients (5%). According to the antifungal drug susceptibility testing, C. albicans was fully susceptible to fluconazole and the other antifungal agents (100%). None of the isolates displayed resistance to anidulafungin, micafungin, flucytosine, posaconazole, voriconazole or itraconazole. There were low rates of resistance to fluconazole (1.8%), caspofungin (1.8%) and micafungin (1.8%). In addition, 5.3% of the Candida isolates were susceptible in a dose-dependent manner to itraconazole, 3.6% were susceptible to voriconazole and fluconazole and 1.8% were susceptible to anidulafungin. The mortality rate of IC was 15.4%. Thrombocytopenia after IC treatment was significantly associated with mortality in the multivariate analysis. These results, which help determine the species distribution, antifungal susceptibility patterns and risk factors for mortality, could make a significant contribution to the management of these challenging infections, including choosing appropriate empirical antifungal therapy.

Acid proteinase, phospholipase and adherence properties of Candida parapsilosis strains isolated from clinical specimens of hospitalised patients.

In this study, we investigated the presence of virulence factors in a total of 33 Candida parapsilosis strains, including adherence, acid proteinase and phospholipase production capabilities. Of the 33 strains, 19 were isolated from blood cultures of hospitalised fungaemic patients (study group 2). We also investigated the importance of other factors present in the development of fungaemia. The mean adherence values of 19 blood isolates and 14 non-blood isolates were found to be 52.63 and 57.96, respectively; these values did not differ significantly (P > 0.05). Nine non-blood strains (64.29%) of study group 2 and five blood strains (26.31%) of study group 1 were found to be positive for acid proteinase production; this difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Phospholipase production was found in five strains (26.31%) of the 19 blood isolates. None of the 14 non-blood strains exhibited phospholipase activity; this difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05). In this study, correlations between adherence-phospholipase, and adherence-acid proteinase properties of strains were detected as well. In the present study, it has been observed that phospholipase production can be an important virulence factor in bloodstream infections caused by C. parapsilosis.

Pichia anomala fungaemia in immunocompromised children.

Pichia anomala is an emerging yeast causing serious nosocomial infections in newborn and immunocompromised children. We describe nosocomial port catheter infection due to P. anomala in three children who were receiving cancer chemotherapy, bloodstream infection in a preterm infant and in an infant with severe combined immunodeficiency. All patients were treated with amphotericin B. All isolates were susceptible to amphotericin B and fluconazole. No recurrence was observed during follow-up in four of five patients. The common clinical feature in all of our patients was the presence of prior antimicrobial therapy.

An unusual native tricuspid valve endocarditis caused by Candida colliculosa.

Candida colliculosa, which grew in blood cultures of a 71-year-old retired man with fever of unknown origin that had lasted for 7 months, in conjunction with transthoracic echocardiography, demonstrating a 20-mm vegetation, superior to the tricuspid valve, herniating into the right atrial cavity. The finding led to the diagnosis of fungal endocarditis. Fluconazole, 600 mg daily, was commenced for 8 days; followed by amphotericin B, 1 mg/kg daily. On the fourth day of the amphotericin B treatment, the patient underwent replacement of the infected tricuspid valve. Even though the initial postoperative period was relatively uncomplicated, the patient died after a gross aspiration on the 67th day of his hospital stay, despite aggressive cardiovascular support and antimicrobial therapy. This is the first report of a native tricuspid valve fungal endocarditis due to C. colliculosa or Torulaspora delbrueckii, which is not known to be a human pathogen.

Immunologic influences of hyperthermia in a rat model of obstructive jaundice.

In this study, the effect of hyperthermia on immune response and bacterial translocation from the gut in jaundiced rats was assessed. In hyperthermic (HP; N = 8) and normothermic (NP; N = 8) preconditioning groups, rats were preconditioned by hyperthermia for 15 min at 42 degrees C or 38 degrees C, respectively. After 8 hr, the common bile duct (CBD) of each animal was ligated. In thermal (TT; N = 8) and normothermic treatment groups (NT; N = 8) the CBD of the animals was ligated, and after seven days rats were treated by hyperthermia for 15 min at 42 degrees C and 38 degrees C, respectively. The rats in the preconditioning groups (HP and NP) were killed at day 7 and rats in the treatment groups (TT and NT) were killed 8 hr after they were put in a water bath. Determination of the immunophenotypes of lymphocytes and serum levels of bilirubin was done in serum samples taken just after death. The quantity and identify of translocated bacteria were determined in tissue samples of mesenteric lymph nodes, spleen, and liver. NK cell expression as well as CD4+/CD8+ ratio were elevated in HP group when compared to NP group. CD8+ expression was found to be low in HP group when compared to NP group. CD4+, CD11b+, and B cell expressions were not found to be different between HP and NP groups. All immunologic parameters were similar when TT and NT groups were compared to each other. In the TT group, half of the rats revealed bacterial translocation, whereas in all other groups, we determined translocation in only 1/8 rats. The application of hyperthermia as preconditioning rather than applying it after the establishment of jaundice seemed to be beneficial. Hyperthermic preconditioning led an improvement in immune responses whereas the latter resulted an increase in bacterial translocation with no favorable influence on immune system. Bacterial translocation was unrelated with the immune status.

[Detection of secretory acid proteinase enzyme from Candida strains on protein supplemented agar media]. / Kandida suslarinda salgisal asit proteinaz enzim varliginin proteinli agar besiyerlerinde gösterilmesi.

In this study, we identified the species of 130 candida strains isolated from various clinical specimens, and we also investigated the secretory acid proteinase activity of these strains on hemoglobin, albumin and casein containing agar media. In 65 of 75 C. albicans, 8 of 15 C. tropicalis, 5 of 15 C. pseudotropicalis, in 3 C. stellatoidea and in 2 C. glabrata strains enzyme activity was shown. We couldn't detect proteinase activity in any of the 7 C. krusei, 7 C. parapsilosis and in 6 C. guilliermondii strains. Enzyme activity was shown to be inhibited when proteolytic strains were treated with specific inhibitor pepstatin-A.

[Frequency of adenovirus group complement-specific antibodies in children]. / Cocuklarda adenovirus grup kompleman birlesmesi antikor dagilimi.

Two hundred and six serum samples collected from children in Hacettepe University and Marmara University, Faculty of Medicine Hospitals, aged between 0-15 were tested for the presence of Adenovirus group specific antibodies by complement fixation test. The frequency of Adenovirus group specific complement fixation antibodies were found to be 4.85%. Most of positive sera were detected in 0-2 age group.

[In vitro susceptibility of gram-negative bacteria isolated from urinary tract infections to acylureidopenicillins]. / Idrar yolu enfeksiyonlarindan izole edilen gram negatif bakterilerin acylureido penicillin'lere olan duyarliliginin in vitro saptanmasi.

Ureidopenicillins exert antibacterial activity on many Gram negative bacteria and also some Gram positive bacteria Two acylureido penicillins called azlocillin and mezlocillin have been introduced recently into medical practice in many countries as broad spectrum antibiotics. In this communication we present the sensitivity of Gram negative bacteria isolated from urinary tract infection of pediatric age patients to azlocillin, mezlocillin, another semisynthetic penicillin called pipercillin and aminoglycoside antibiotic gentamicin by MIC and disk-diffusion methods. The results are discussed in the view of the use of new semisythetic penicillins in clinical practice.

[The enzyme penicillinase and plasmid penicillinase in Staphylococcus aureus strains]. / Staphylococcus aureus suslarinda penisilinaz enziminin ve penisilinaz plazmidinin varliginin arastirilmasi.

Penicillinase enzyme activities and resistance to some heavy metal ions in 25 S. aureus strains isolated in various hospitals in Ankara were investigated. We also tried to find out whether the controlling genes for penicillinase activity were on the plasmids or not. By the assays that were performed, this enzyme was detected in 22 out of 25 S. aureus strains. All of the strains were found to be resistant to mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb), but only 5 of them were sensitive to cadmium (Cd). We were not able to determine the source of the penicillinase in all strains of staphylococci.