Hand-foot syndrome and nail disorders secondary to treatment with paclitaxel: Is there a relationship with the presence of fungi?

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to evaluate the frequency of nail disorders and the presence of fungi on the nails of the hands and feet of patients with hand-foot syndrome secondary to treatment with paclitaxel. METHODS: Prospective study, carried out from October 2018 to December 2019, which included 81 patients undergoing treatment for breast cancer using paclitaxel and had signs and or symptoms of hand-foot syndrome with or without nail disorders. The data were collected through interviews guided by a structured questionnaire, information from medical records and reports of mycological exams. RESULTS: The average age of women was 54.7 ± 7.4 years. Nail disorders occurred in 69 patients (85.2%), and of these, 43 (62.3%) were positive for fungi. The fungi were yeasts (n = 38; 69%), dermatophytes (n = 15; 27.2%) and non-dermatophyte filamentous fungi (n = 8; 14.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Nail disorders were the most frequent manifestations in patients with hand-foot syndrome treated with paclitaxel and occurred in 85.2% of them. It was evidenced that fungi are present on the nails of these patients and can occur in up to 65.28%. The most prevalent fungi were Candida and Trichophyton. The nail lesion was associated with the type of treatment protocol used by the patient. The results of the study point to the need to select safe management alternatives for patients, so they can prevent nail lesions and prevent the proliferation of fungi, consequently reducing negative life impact during treatment.

Onychomycosis in Psoriatic Patients with Nail Disorders: Aetiological Agents and Immunosuppressive Therapy.

Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are chronic, relapsing, immune-based diseases. Psoriatic patients may have nail involvement in 50 to 80% of cases, and this may reach 85% in patients with joint disease, in spite of the fact that the relationship between psoriasis and onychomycosis is not well established. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of onychomycosis in patients with nail disorders and diagnosis of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. This was a cross-sectional study in which 38 patients diagnosed with psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis were interviewed and had altered nail samples analysed by mycological and histopathological exams. Twenty-two (57.89%) patients had a confirmed diagnosis for onychomycosis. Seventeen (44.8%) had a positive direct mycological examination, 16 (42.1%) had positive cultures, and 12 (31.6%) were positive for fungi by histopathological examination. Dermatophytes were identified in nine (56.3%) cultures, and of these, eight were Trichophyton rubrum and one T. tonsurans. Yeasts were isolated in seven patients (43.75%), which included four Candida parapsilosis and three C. albicans. Six patients (15.78%) were not using immunosuppressive therapy, and the others were using methotrexate, etanercept, adalimumab, infliximab, secukinumab, or golimumab, in monotherapy or in combination with other drugs. The confirmed onychomycosis rate in patients using methotrexate alone was 92.8% (n = 13). We concluded that it is possible that there is a positive relationship between psoriatic disease and onychomycosis. And we highlight that it is also worth investigating in the future the possible role of immunosuppressive therapy (mainly methotrexate) as a predisposing factor for the development of fungal infections in psoriatic patients.

The epidemiology of cryptococcosis and the characterization of Cryptococcus neoformans isolated in a Brazilian University Hospital.

Cryptococcosis, a systemic disease caused by the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans/ Cryptococcus gattii is more severe in immunocompromised individuals. This study aimed to analyze the epidemiology of the disease, the molecular characteristics and the antifungal susceptibility of C. neoformans isolated from patients treated in a Brazilian university hospital. This retrospective study was conducted in the Clinical Hospital, Federal University of Uberlândia, and evaluated cases of cryptococcosis and strains of C. neoformans isolated from 2004 to 2013. We evaluated 41 patients, 85% of whom were diagnosed with AIDS. The fungus was isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 21 patients (51%); 19.5% had fungemia and in 24% the agent was isolated from the CSF and blood, concurrently. Meningoencephalitis was the most frequent (75%) manifestation of infection. Despite adequate treatment, the mortality of the disease was 58.5%. Most isolates (97.5%) presented the VNI genotype (serotype A, var. grubii) and one isolate was genotyped as C. gattii (VGI); all the isolates were determined as mating type MATa and showed susceptibility to the tested antifungals (fluconazole, voriconazole, amphotericin B and 5-flucytosine). Although AIDS detection rates remain stable, opportunistic infections such as cryptococcosis remain as major causes of morbidity and mortality in these patients.

The epidemiology of cryptococcosis and the characterization of Cryptococcus neoformans isolated in a Brazilian University Hospital

ABSTRACT Cryptococcosis, a systemic disease caused by the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans/ Cryptococcus gattii is more severe in immunocompromised individuals. This study aimed to analyze the epidemiology of the disease, the molecular characteristics and the antifungal susceptibility of C. neoformans isolated from patients treated in a Brazilian university hospital. This retrospective study was conducted in the Clinical Hospital, Federal University of Uberlândia, and evaluated cases of cryptococcosis and strains of C. neoformans isolated from 2004 to 2013. We evaluated 41 patients, 85% of whom were diagnosed with AIDS. The fungus was isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 21 patients (51%); 19.5% had fungemia and in 24% the agent was isolated from the CSF and blood, concurrently. Meningoencephalitis was the most frequent (75%) manifestation of infection. Despite adequate treatment, the mortality of the disease was 58.5%. Most isolates (97.5%) presented the VNI genotype (serotype A, var. grubii) and one isolate was genotyped as C. gattii (VGI); all the isolates were determined as mating type MATa and showed susceptibility to the tested antifungals (fluconazole, voriconazole, amphotericin B and 5-flucytosine). Although AIDS detection rates remain stable, opportunistic infections such as cryptococcosis remain as major causes of morbidity and mortality in these patients.

FREQUENCY OF Candida SPECIES IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN TRIANGULO MINEIRO, MINAS GERAIS STATE, BRAZIL.

Infections by Candida species are a high-impact problem in public health due to their wide incidence in hospitalized patients. The goal of this study was to evaluate frequency, susceptibility to antifungals, and genetic polymorphism of Candida species isolated from clinical specimens of hospitalized patients. The Candida isolates included in this study were obtained from blood cultures, abdominal fluids, and central venous catheters (CVC) of hospitalized patients at the Clinical Hospital of the Federal University of Uberlândia during the period of July 2010 - June 2011. Susceptibility tests were conducted by the broth microdilution method. The RAPD-PCR tests used employed initiator oligonucleotides OPA09, OPB11, and OPE06. Of the 63 Candida isolates, 18 (28.5%) were C. albicans, 20 (31.7%) were C. parapsilosis complex species, 14 (22.2%) C. tropicalis, four (6.4%) C. glabrata, four (6.4%) C. krusei, two (3.3%) C. kefyr, and one (1.6%) C. lusitaniae. In vitro resistance to amphotericin B was observed in 12.7% of isolates. In vitro resistance to azoles was not detected, except for C. krusei. The two primers, OPA09 and OPB11, were able to distinguish different species. Isolates of C. albicans and C. parapsilosis complex species presented six and five clusters, respectively, with the OPA09 marker by RAPD-PCR, showing the genetic variability of the isolates of those species. It was concluded that members of the C. parapsilosis complex were the most frequent species found, and most isolates were susceptible to the antifungals amphotericin B, flucozanole, and itraconazole. High genetic polymorphisms were observed for isolates of C. albicans and C. parapsilosis complex species, mainly with the OPA09 marker.

FREQUENCY OF Candida SPECIES IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN TRIANGULO MINEIRO, MINAS GERAIS STATE, BRAZIL / Frequência de espécies de Candida em hospital terciário do Triângulo Mineiro, Minas Gerais, Brasil

Infections by Candida species are a high-impact problem in public health due to their wide incidence in hospitalized patients. The goal of this study was to evaluate frequency, susceptibility to antifungals, and genetic polymorphism of Candida species isolated from clinical specimens of hospitalized patients. The Candida isolates included in this study were obtained from blood cultures, abdominal fluids, and central venous catheters (CVC) of hospitalized patients at the Clinical Hospital of the Federal University of Uberlândia during the period of July 2010 - June 2011. Susceptibility tests were conducted by the broth microdilution method. The RAPD-PCR tests used employed initiator oligonucleotides OPA09, OPB11, and OPE06. Of the 63 Candida isolates, 18 (28.5%) were C. albicans, 20 (31.7%) were C. parapsilosis complex species, 14 (22.2%) C. tropicalis, four (6.4%) C. glabrata, four (6.4%) C. krusei, two (3.3%) C. kefyr, and one (1.6%) C. lusitaniae. In vitro resistance to amphotericin B was observed in 12.7% of isolates. In vitro resistance to azoles was not detected, except for C. krusei. The two primers, OPA09 and OPB11, were able to distinguish different species. Isolates of C. albicans and C. parapsilosis complex species presented six and five clusters, respectively, with the OPA09 marker by RAPD-PCR, showing the genetic variability of the isolates of those species. It was concluded that members of the C. parapsilosis complex were the most frequent species found, and most isolates were susceptible to the antifungals amphotericin B, flucozanole, and itraconazole. High genetic polymorphisms were observed for isolates of C. albicans and C. parapsilosis complex species, mainly with the OPA09 marker.

As infecções causadas por espécies de Candida são problema de grande impacto para a saúde pública, devido à alta incidência em pacientes hospitalizados e como causa de mortalidade. O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a frequência de Candida spp. isoladas de pacientes hospitalizados, assim como a sensibilidade aos antifúngicos e o polimorfismo genético por RAPD-PCR. Os microrganismos incluíram isolados de hemocultura, líquido abdominal e ponta de cateter venoso central de pacientes internados no Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, região do Triângulo Mineiro, Minas Gerais, Brasil, no período de julho de 2010-junho de 2011. Os testes de sensibilidade aos antifúngicos foram realizados por microdiluição em caldo e na análise por RAPD-PCR foram utilizados os oligonucleotídeos OPA09, OPB11, e OPE06. Dos 63 isolados, 18 (28,5%) foram C. albicans, 20 (31,7%) C. parapsilosis, 14 (22,2%) C. tropicalis, quatro (6,4%) C. glabrata, quatro (6,4%) C. krusei, dois (3,3%) C. kefyr, e um (1,6%) C. lusitaniae. Resistência in-vitro à anfotericina B foi observada em 12,7% dos isolados. Não foi observada resistência in-vitro aos azólicos, exceto para os isolados de C. krusei. Os oligonucleotídeos OPA09 e OPB11 possibilitaram distinguir diferentes espécies. Isolados de C. albicans apresentaram seis clusters e o complexo C. parapsilosis, cinco clusters, com o iniciador OPA09, por RAPD-PCR, mostrando a variabilidade genética daquelas espécies. Conclui-se que o complexo C. parapsilosis foi a espécie mais frequente, e a maioria dos isolados foi sensível in vitro aos antifúngicos testados. Alto polimorfismo genético foi observado para os isolados de C. albicans e complexo C. parapsilosis, principalmente com o oligonucleotídeo OPA09.

Sensibilidade de isolados de candida spp. a antifúngicos por disco-difusão em ágar e microdiluição em caldo / Antifungal susceptibility of isolates of candida spp. by disk diffusion and broth microdilution

Os testes de sensibilidade aos antifúngicos realizados pelo método de disco-difusão em ágar são práticos e bem conhecidos pelos profissionais do laboratório de microbiologia, entretanto apresentam particularidades que os diferem dos testes realizados para bactérias. O objetivo deste trabalho foi comparar as técnicas de disco-difusão em ágar e microdiluição em caldo na determinação da sensibilidade in vitro de isolados de Candida spp. a antifúngicos. Foram analisados 63 isolados clínicos de leveduras, que incluíram as espécies Candida parapsilosis complex (n = 20), Candida albicans (n = 18), Candida tropicalis (n = 14), Candida glabrata (n = 4), Candida krusei (n = 4), Candida kefyr (n = 2) e Candida lusitaniae (n = 1). As técnicas de disco-difusão em ágar e de microdiluição em caldo foram utilizadas para testar a sensibilidade em relação aos antifúngicos fluconazol, itraconazol e anfotericina B. A sensibilidade ao voriconazol foi determinada somente pela técnica de disco-difusão. Os halos ao redor dos discos de fluconazol variaram de 14 mm a 50 mm, e a CIM de 0,125 µg/mL a 32 µg/mL; para itraconazol, os halos variaram de 9 mm a 27 mm e a CIM de 0,03 µg/mL a 0,25 µg/mL; para anfotericina B, 9 mm a 21mm e 0,5 µg/mL a 2 µg/mL, respectivamente; para voriconazol, o diâmetro dos halos variaram de 19 mm a 50 mm. Para as três espécies, C. albicans, C. parapsilosis e C. tropicalis, a técnica de disco-difusão apresentou boa concordância com a microdiluição, especialmente em relação ao fluconazol, representando, assim, um recurso importante para os laboratórios reportarem os resultados dos testes de sensibilidade dos isolados dessas espécies ao fluconazol.

Antimicrobial susceptibility tests performed by disk diffusion method are practical and well known by professionals that work in the microbiology laboratory. The disk diffusion methodology used to verify the susceptibility of fungi to antifungal agents, however, has characteristics that differ from the tests for bacteria. The objective of this study was to evaluate the disk diffusion method to determine the in vitro susceptibility to antifungal agents of Candida species. We analyzed 63 clinical isolates of yeasts, which included Candida parapsilosis complex species (n = 20), Candida albicans (n = 18), Candida tropicalis (n = 14), Candida glabrata (n = 4), Candida krusei (n = 4), Candida kefyr (n = 2) and Candida lusitaniae (n = 1). The susceptibility tests to antifungal drugs was performed by disk diffusion methods and broth microdilution for antifungal fluconazole, itraconazole and amphotericin B. Voriconazole was used to test the susceptibility only by the disk diffusion method. The inhibition halos of growth around disks of fluconazole ranged from 14 mm to 50 mm and the MIC from 0.125 µg/mL to 32 µg/mL, for itraconazole, halos ranged from 9 mm to 27 mm and the MIC from 0.03 µg/mL to 0.25 µg/mL, for amphotericin B, 9 mm to 21 mm and 0.5 µg/mL to 2 µg/mL, respectively. The diameter of voriconazole disks varied from 19 mm to 50 mm. For the three species, C. albicans, C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis, the disk diffusion method showed good agreement with the microdilution, especially to fluconazole, thus representing an important resource for medical laboratories reporting results of susceptibility testing of isolates of these species to fluconazole.

[Cryptococosis: clinical epidemiological laboratorial study and fungi varieties in 96 patients]. / Criptococose: estudo clínico-epidemiológico, laboratorial e das variedades do fungo em 96 pacientes.

Ninety-six patients with cryptococcosis confirmed by clinical and laboratorial diagnosis were assessed in a prospective study in a University Hospital from March 1998 to November 2003; of these, 81.3% were HIV seropositive patients. Cryptococcus neoformans was isolated from different samples, of which the cerebrospinal fluid 74 (77%) was the most frequent. C. neoformans var neoformans was isolated in 89 cases, where as C. neoformans var gattii was isolated in 7. Cryptococcal meningoencephalitis was detected in 56.3% cases. It was the most frequent unique clinical manifestation and the fungus was detected in the bloodstream in 13.5% of the patients. Among the risk factors, AIDS (81.3%) was the most frequently associated with mycosis. Direct examination carried out on 121 samples revealed the microorganism in 98.3% of them, while the culture was positive for all samples. Most of the patients (59.4%) were treated with amphotericin B or with triazoles, however 72.9% of them ended in death, in particular those patients with positive tests for the HIV (62.5%). Nowadays, cryptococcosis has been frequently diagnosed in our region and represents one of the opportunistic diseases with the highest morbidity and mortality rates in patients with AIDS.

Criptococose: estudo clínico-epidemiológico, laboratorial e das variedades do fungo em 96 pacientes / Cryptococosis: clinical epidemiologycal laboratorial study and fungi varieties in 96 patients

Estudo prospectivo foi realizado no Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, entre março de 1998 e novembro de 2003, em 96 pacientes com diagnóstico clínico e laboratorial de criptococose, sendo 81,3 por cento portadores de Aids. Cepas de Cryptococcus neoformans foram obtidas de diferentes amostras, sendo 77 por cento em líquido cefalorraquidiano. A var neoformans foi isolada em 89 casos e a var gattii em 7. A meningoencefalite criptocócica (56,3 por cento dos casos), foi a manifestação clínica mais descrita, seguida da fungemia (13,5 por cento). Entre os fatores de risco, a AIDS (81,3 por cento) foi o mais comumente associado à micose. A pesquisa direta do fungo realizada em 121 amostras demonstrou o microrganismo em 98,3 por cento, com cultura (+) em todas. Dos pacientes, 59,4 por cento foram tratados com anfotericina B ou derivados triazólicos, sendo que 72,9 por cento evoluíram para óbito, em particular os portadores de AIDS (62,5 por cento). Atualmente, a criptococose tem sido diagnosticada com muita freqüência em nosso meio e constitui uma das doenças oportunísticas de maior morbidade e mortalidade nos pacientes com AIDS.