Oral yeast carriage in HIV-infected and non-infected populations in Rosario, Argentina.

The objectives of the present study were: (i) to assess the frequency of oral colonisation by Candida species in HIV-positive patients and to compare it with a population of HIV-negative individuals, (ii) to determine the prevalence of C. dubliniensis in both populations and (iii) to determine the susceptibility of C. dubliniensis and other Candida species isolated from HIV-positive patients to the most commonly used antifungal agents. Oral samples were obtained from 101 HIV-positive and 108 HIV-negative subjects. For yeast identification, we used morphology in cornmeal agar, the API 20C Aux, growth at 45 degrees C, d-xylose assimilation, morphology in sunflower seed agar and PCR. The frequency of isolation of Candida in HIV-positive patients was: C. albicans, 60.7%; C. dubliniensis, 20.2%; C. glabrata, 5.6%; C. krusei, 5.6%; C. tropicalis, 4.5%; others, <5%. The frequency of isolation of Candida in HIV-negative patients was: C. albicans, 73.9%; C. tropicalis, 15.5%; C. dubliniensis, 2.1%; C. glabrata, 2.1%; C. parapsilosis, 2.1%; others, <5%. The oral colonisation by yeast in the HIV-positive patients was higher than that in the HIV-negative subjects. The susceptibilities of 42 Candida isolates to three antifungal agents were determined. All isolates of C. dubliniensis were susceptible to fluconazole, although several individuals had been previously treated with this drug. Out of the 42 Candida isolates, 10 presented resistance to fluconazole and 10 to itraconazole. The presence of Candida species, resistant to commonly used antifungal agents, represents a potential risk in immunocompromised patients.

[Influence of temperature and pH on the in vitro adherence of Candida albicans.]. / Efecto de la temperatura y el pH en la adherencia de Candida albicans in vitro.

Yeast adherence to epithelial cells is a very important step in colonization and infection caused by these opportunistic pathogens. This phenomenon may be modified in vitro by many factors. The aim of this work was to find out how variations in pH and temperature modify the in vitro adherence of Candida albicans to epithelial cells. We worked with epithelial buccal cells and a yeast strain according to Gibbons and Van Houte technique with slight modifications. In the first assay, adherence at 28 degrees C and 37 degrees C, and three pH values, 6, 7.2 and 8.4 were simultaneously studied. We did not find significant variations in adherente capacity, but a slight increase was detected at pH 7.2 and 37 degrees C. In the second assay, temperature was fixed at 37 degrees C and four pH values were studied: 3, 4, 5, and 7.2. We find a highly significant difference (p < 0.001) between adherente at pH = 7.2 with respect to the other pH values. According to these results C. albicans adherence to epithelial buccal cells, in vitro, is produced at 37 degrees C and pH 7.2 in optimal conditions.

Endoftalmitis por Aspergillus nidulans / Endophtalmitis due to Aspergillus nidulans

Se comunica un caso de endoftalmitis micótica del ojo izquierdo en un paciente de 18 años, que había sufrido una herida perforante en ese ojo con posterior tratamiento antibiótico y corticoídeo. Del material de la cámara anterior del ojo, se aisló Aspergillus nidulans. El paciente fue tratado con natamicina y evolucionó favorablemente (AU)

Endoftalmitis por Aspergillus nidulans / Endophtalmitis due to Aspergillus nidulans

Se comunica un caso de endoftalmitis micótica del ojo izquierdo en un paciente de 18 años, que había sufrido una herida perforante en ese ojo con posterior tratamiento antibiótico y corticoídeo. Del material de la cámara anterior del ojo, se aisló Aspergillus nidulans. El paciente fue tratado con natamicina y evolucionó favorablemente

Study of a Madurella grisea strain isolated from a foot mycetoma.

Madurella grisea has been isolated from a Madura foot with black grains. The fungi classification was made based on the macro and micro-morphology characteristics of the culture. Difficulties with the interpretation of biochemistry tests were analyzed. The study is completed with trials of in vitro sensibility for different antifungal agents.