Systemic Antifungal Therapy (systemic + antifungal_therapy)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Strain persistence of invasive Candida albicans in chronic hyperplastic candidosis that underwent malignant change

GERODONTOLOGY, Issue 2 2001
DW Williams
Abstract Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess persistence and tissue invasion of Candida albicans strains isolated from a 65 year-old patient with chronic hyperplastic candidosis (CHC), that subsequently developed into squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Materials and Methods: C. albicans (n=7) were recovered from the oral cavity of the patient over seven years. Confirmation of CHC and SCC in this patient was achieved by histopathological examination of incisional biopsy tissue. DNA fingerprinting was performed on the seven isolates from the CHC patient together with a further eight isolates from patients with normal oral mucosa (n=2), chronic atrophic candidosis (n=1), SCC (n=1) and CHC (n=4). Genotyping involved the use of inter-repeat PCR using the eukaryotic repeat primer 1251. Characterisation of the tissue invasive abilities of the isolates was achieved by infecting a commercially available reconstituted human oral epithelium (RHE; SkinEthic, Nice, France). After 24 h. C. albicans tissue invasion was assessed by histopathological examination. Results: DNA fingerprinting demonstrated strain persistence of C. albicans in the CHC patient over a seven year period despite provision of systemic antifungal therapy. The strain of C. albicans isolated from this patient was categorised as a high invader within the RHE compared to other isolates. Conclusions: Candidal strain persistence was evident in a patient with CHC over seven years. This persistence may be due to incomplete eradication from the oral cavity following antifungal therapy or subsequent recolonisation from other body sites or separate exogenous sources. The demonstration of enhanced in vitro tissue invasion by this particular strain may, in part, explain the progression to carcinoma. [source]


Solitary embolic cutaneous aspergillosis in the immunocompromised patient with acute myelogenous leukemia , a propos another case caused by Aspergillus flavus

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 12 2003
Aleksandar L. Krunic MD
A 68-year-old male with acute myelogenous leukemia was admitted for consolidation chemotherapy. The in-hospital course was complicated by neutropenia, fever and nodular pulmonary opacities suggestive of multifocal pneumonia. The patient subsequently developed a single, solitary necrotic crusted nodule on the right cheek. Skin biopsy demonstrated embolic vascular invasion with septate hyphae, dichotomous branching and minimal inflammation. Tissue culture revealed Aspergillus flavus. Despite systemic antifungal therapy with amphotericin B and granulocyte transfusions, the patient developed respiratory failure and died of disseminated aspergillosis, sepsis and renal failure. The clinical presentation of disseminated infection with Aspergillus flavus as a solitary embolic cutaneous lesion is extremely rare. We have reviewed other cases described in the literature and suggest this pattern of cutaneous involvement as more typical of disseminated infection with Aspergillus flavus. [source]


Fungemia Associated with Left Ventricular Assist Device Support

JOURNAL OF CARDIAC SURGERY, Issue 6 2009
M.P.H., Natasha G. Bagdasarian M.D.
While relatively uncommon, fungal infections present a serious concern given a high association with adverse events including death. We sought to further characterize the epidemiology of fungemias during LVAD support. Methods: Retrospective review of 292 patients receiving LVAD support from October 1996 to April 2009 at the University of Michigan Health System was done. Results: Seven cases of LVAD-associated fungemia were observed during the study period (0.1 infections/1000 days of device support). Five patients had infection with Candida species and two with Aspergillus species. The two patients with Aspergillus infection presented with disseminated disease, quickly dying of multiorgan failure, and sepsis. All five patients with Candida infections were successfully treated with systemic antifungal therapy along with transplantation in four of five patients. The fifth patient is receiving mechanical support as destination therapy. He remains on long-term suppression with high-dose fluconazole. Conclusions: Fungal infections appear to be a rare but serious complication of LVAD support. Future studies should aim to improve our understanding of risk factors for fungal infection during mechanical support, especially disseminated Aspergillus. Short-term perioperative antifungal prophylaxis with fluconazole appears to be an effective and reasonable approach to prevention. [source]


Pruritic eruption with reticular pigmentation: Confluent and reticulate papillomatosis

AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 3 2007
Gursoy Dogan
SUMMARY A 28-year-old man presented with a 2-year history of a pruritic eruption on his neck, chest, back, axillae, and antecubital and pubic areas. The patient had been previously treated with topical and systemic antifungal therapy for a long time, but showed no response. Examination revealed the typical clinical and histological features of confluent and reticulate papillomatosis. The patient responded well to oral doxycycline. [source]