Emergence of Candida auris in Russia.

This paper reports the emergence of Candida auris infections in an intensive care unit at a hospital in Moscow. Forty-nine cases were diagnosed in 2016-2017, and the risk factors and antifungal susceptibilities are described. The 30-day all-cause mortality for 19 bloodstream infections in patients who did not receive appropriate antifungal therapy was 42.1%. Phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer and D1-D2 regions and K143R substitution in the ERG11 gene indicated that the studied C. auris strains were of South Asian origin. This first reported series of C. auris infections in Russia demonstrates the rapid dissemination of this species, and the need for international surveillance and control measures.

Challenges in the diagnosis and treatment of mucormycosis.

The diagnosis and treatment of mucormycosis are challenging. The incidence of the disease seems to be increasing. Hematological malignancies are the most common underlying disease in countries with high income and uncontrolled diabetes in developing countries. Clinical approach to diagnosis lacks sensitivity and specificity. Radiologically, multiple (≥10) nodules and pleural effusion are reportedly associated with pulmonary mucormycosis. Another finding on computerized tomography (CT) scan, which seems to indicate the presence of mucormycosis, is the reverse halo sign. Microscopy (direct and on histopathology) and culture are the cornerstones of diagnosis. Molecular assays can be used either for detection or identification of mucormycetes, and they can be recommended as valuable add-on tools that complement conventional diagnostic procedures. Successful management of mucormycosis is based on a multimodal approach, including reversal or discontinuation of underlying predisposing factors, early administration of active antifungal agents at optimal doses, complete removal of all infected tissues, and use of various adjunctive therapies. Our armamentarium of antifungals is slightly enriched by the addition of two newer azoles (posaconazole and isavuconazole) to liposomal amphotericin B, which remains the drug of choice for the initial antifungal treatment, according to the recently published guidelines by ECIL-6, as well as those published by ECMM/ESCMID. Despite the efforts for better understanding of the pathogenesis, early diagnosis and aggressive treatment of mucormycosis, the mortality rate of the disease remains high.

Successful management of postpneumonectomy Aspergillus pleural empyema by combined surgical and anti-fungal treatment with voriconazole and caspofungin.

Aspergillus pleural empyema is a rare but often fatal infection complicating thoracic surgery. Three men and one woman aged 23-47 years were diagnosed with Aspergillus pleural empyema after lung resection. Underlying diseases were lung cancer (n = 2), Hodgkin's disease (n = 1) and thoracic trauma (n = 1). The treatment protocol consisted of systemic anti-fungal treatment with caspofungin and voriconazole, intrapleural application of amphotericin B and surgical debridement with secondary closure of the leaking bronchial stump. Two patients with chronic Aspergillus pleural empyema had been pretreated with itraconazole and/or amphotericin B. Two patients were treated with a thoracostoma. Two patients had undergone pneumonectomy for previously diagnosed pulmonary aspergillosis. Caspofungin was given for 13-60 days, Voriconazole for up to 100 days. Surgical debridement was performed in all cases and in two cases the created thoracostoma was closed during a second surgical procedure. Aspergillus PCR using blood samples, bronchoalveolar lavage or aspiration fluid was used for monitoring. All four patients had complete clinical and microbiological remission. Our case series shows promising results and underscores the importance of a combined therapeutic approach for Aspergillus pleural empyema consisting of anti-fungal treatment and surgery. Voriconazole and caspofungin seem to be a suitable combination for this infection.

Invasive fungal infections in allogeneic and autologous stem cell transplant recipients: a single-center study of 166 transplanted patients.

OBJECTIVES: Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) remain a major cause of infection-related morbidity and mortality following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the incidence of IFIs in 166 patients undergoing either allogeneic or autologous HSCT at our institution between January 2000 and December 2003. RESULTS: Incidence of invasive aspergillosis (IA) and invasive candidiasis among allogeneic HSCT recipients was 23% (16-32%, 95% confidence interval [CI]) and 3% (1-9%, 95% CI), respectively. Duration of neutropenia and reduced-intensity conditioning were the only risk factors for IA in the multivariate model. Patients with IA had significantly reduced overall survival (8% versus 56%, P=0.01) due to higher transplant-related mortality (63% versus 31%, P=0.03). Following autologous HSCT, incidence of IA and invasive candidiasis was 8% (4-19%, 95% CI) and 2% (0.2-11%, 95% CI), respectively. Duration of neutropenia was the only risk factor for the development of IA following autologous HSCT. Overall survival of autologous HSCT recipients with IA was similar to that of patients without IA. Seventeen percent of autologous HSCT recipients were colonized with Candida species. Compared with non-colonized patients these patients had significantly reduced overall survival (72% versus 23%, P=0.004), due to increased treatment-related mortality (23% versus 9%, P=0.02). CONCLUSION: Diagnosis of IA following allogeneic HSCT and Candida colonization in the setting of autologous HSCT defines patient populations with poor outcome but primarily not as a result of the fungal pathogen. Regarding the incidence of IA, duration of neutropenia is the main risk factor, and dose-reduced conditioning is an additional risk factor for the development of IA following allogeneic HSCT, probably owing to increased recipient age in this patient cohort, requiring further studies in this transplantation setting.