ABSTRACT
An outbreak of candidiasis caused by C. albicans was registered in a neonatal intensive care unit of one of the hospital of St.-Petersburg at the period of August 12-October 8, 1992. C. albicans were isolated from 21 out of 87 patients. To achieve their more detailed deciphering and to establish epidemiological relationships, the intraspecific typing of C. albicans was carried out by DNA typing and by the electrophoretic spectrum of exoproduct proteins. The analysis of the results of this typing revealed that strains classified with the same biotype belonged to different electrophoretic groups and, vice versa, strains of the same electrophoretic group could belong to different biotypes. The analysis of the data obtained by taking into account the results of typing by the two methods, the time of the patients stay in the unit, the number of the maternity clinic from which an individual patient arrived, the number of the reanimation place and the number of the apparatus for artificial lung ventilation made it possible to establish epidemiological relationships between the patients in all cases.
Subject(s)
Candida albicans/classification , Candidiasis/epidemiology , Animals , Candida albicans/chemistry , Candida albicans/isolation & purification , Candida albicans/pathogenicity , Candidiasis/microbiology , Cross Infection/epidemiology , Cross Infection/microbiology , Disease Outbreaks , Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel , Female , Fungal Proteins/analysis , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Male , Mice , Mycological Typing Techniques , Prospective Studies , VirulenceABSTRACT
Meningitis caused by Rhodotorula spp. in HIV-infected patients has not been reported previously. We present a brief review of the literature regarding medically important species of Rhodotorula and a case of meningitis caused by Rhodotorula rubra in an HIV-infected patient. The diagnosis was confirmed by the isolation of the fungus from the CSF. The course of Rhodotorula-induced meningitis was characterized by gradual development over several months, severe headache and high body temperature. No signs of damage to the meninx or inflammatory changes were observed. Therapy with 5-fluorocytosine for 15 days was successful in eliminating the yeast from the CSF. Eight months later the meningitis relapsed with R. rubra being recovered from the CSF. Suppressive therapy with itraconazole (400 mg daily during 3 months) followed by maintenance therapy (200 mg daily) eradicated the infection.
Subject(s)
AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections/microbiology , Antifungal Agents/therapeutic use , Itraconazole/therapeutic use , Meningitis, Fungal/diagnosis , Mycoses/etiology , Rhodotorula , AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections/drug therapy , Adult , Flucytosine/pharmacology , HIV Infections , Homosexuality, Male , Humans , Male , Meningitis, Fungal/drug therapy , Meningitis, Fungal/etiology , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Rhodotorula/classification , Rhodotorula/isolation & purificationABSTRACT
A 30-year-old female with HIV-infection (AIDS-stage) died with generalized, including meningoencephalitis, infection. Fungi found in the brain were identified as Cryptococcus neoformans. Fungal cells were also found in the lungs and in the necrotic phlegmon of soft tissue i. e. there was a generalized Cryptococcus infection.
Subject(s)
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/complications , Cryptococcosis/etiology , Meningoencephalitis/etiology , Adult , Cryptococcus neoformans/isolation & purification , Female , Humans , Meningoencephalitis/microbiologyABSTRACT
The biotyping of 284 C. albicans strains has been carried out in accordance with the system of three tests, proposed by F.C. Odds and A. B. Abbott. The reliability of the epidemiological conclusions made as the result of this work has been analyzed. The independence of the signs of C. albicans used in biotyping and the asymmetrical character of the test for its sensitivity to 5-fluorocytosine have been shown. The change of this test for a more symmetrical one is proposed. The study has shown that in the process of prolonged storage with periodic subculturing the proportion of C. albicans strains resistant to pH 1.40 and possessing proteolytic activity is decreased. The distribution of different biotypes among C. albicans strains isolated from candidiasis patients and from carriers has proved to be the same.
Subject(s)
Candida albicans/classification , Mycology/methods , Candida albicans/isolation & purification , Candida albicans/pathogenicity , Candidiasis/microbiology , Carrier State/microbiology , Culture Media , Drug Resistance, Microbial , Humans , VirulenceABSTRACT
The trial of a newly developed dried selective medium for the isolation of fungi of the genus Candida, involving the inoculation of 103 museum yeast strains and 542 specimens of pathological material, has been carried out. The data obtained in this trial indicate that the proposed medium has advantages over wort agar and Sabouraud medium with antibiotics in the germination index, in the ability to ensure fungal growth after the inoculation of pathological material, and in selective properties. The medium ensures the intactness of the morpho-cultural, biochemical and serological properties of the fungi. The results of the trial recommend the newly developed preparation for laboratory practice for the isolation of yeast-like fungi from clinical material in the diagnosis of candidiasis, intestinal microflora disturbances, as well as for isolation of the fungi from various environmental objects.
