Microsphaeropsis olivacea as an etiological agent of human skin infection.

Microsphaeropsis olivacea is reported as the agent of a case of human skin infection in an otherwise healthy woman. This fungus has not been reported previously as causing disease in humans. It was identified on the basis of its production of pycnidia and conidial structures typical of the Coelomycetes, and by its light brown, ellipsoid to cylindrical and thick walled conidia. The in vitro inhibitory activity of amphotericin B, fluconazole, flucytosine, itraconazole, ketoconazole and miconazole was determined.

[Evaluation of clinical data and a technique of rapid detection (TestPack Strep A) in the diagnosis of acute streptococcal pharyngo-tonsillitis]. / Evaluación de los datos clínicos y de una técnica de detección rápida (TestPack Strep A) en el diagnóstico de las faringoamigdalitis agudas estreptocócicas.

We have evaluated the validity of the clinical data, the clinical impression (CI) of the physician and a rapid antigenic technique (RAT) for the diagnosis of acute streptococcal pharyngitis and tonsillitis (SPT). We evaluated 126 patients aged 7-60 years (October 1988-March 1989). The incidence of SPT was 19%. SPTs had a significantly higher frequency of lack of cough and sudden onset as isolated findings, and of the associations fever greater than 38 degrees C + exudate + lack of cough, and sudden onset + fever greater than 38 degrees C + exudate + lack of cough. CI had a sensibility (S) of 56%, a specificity (Sp) of 72%, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 32%, a negative predictive value (NPV) of 88% and an overall valve (OV) of 69%. The RAT had a S of 79.2%, a Sp 93%, a PPV of 73%, a NPV of 95%, and an OV of 90.5%. Only some clinical data are useful to diagnose SPT. The CI of the physician has a low predictive value, whereas TestPack Strep A is useful and has a similar value as pharyngeal culture.