Deep Candida Infections Research Articles

Fungal Tracheitis Mimics Croup

A rare case report of a 16-month-old child’s survival of obstructive fungal tracheitis is presented. Atypical lifethreateningcroup in an immunocompromised patient often heralds very poor clinical outcomes due to underlyinginfection. Deep Candida infections are very rare, relegated to immunocompromised hosts and are often fatal dueto extensive local tracheal cartilage destruction, with or without disseminated systemic disease. The literature ondeep candida infections is reviewed in the context of this patient’s clinical course in hospital, focusing on airwaymanagement, treatment outcome, and risks of future relapse.

Deep Candida infections in the neutropenic and non-neutropenic host: an ISHAM symposium

Deep Candida infections in the neutropenic and non-neutropenic host: an ISHAM symposium

Deep Candida infections in the neutropenic and non-neutropenic host: an ISHAM symposium

Deep Candida infections in the neutropenic and non-neutropenic host: an ISHAM symposium

Deep Candida infections in the neutropenic and non-neutropenic host: an ISHAM symposium

A symposium was held on May 8, 2000 to discuss the management of deep infections with Candida species. Among the findings discussed were the following. Candiduria is most often benign, though it occurs in patients with serious underlying diseases. Candida species are now the fourth most common cause of nosocomial bloodstream infections, usually arising from an intravenous catheter. Candida albicans represents only 50-60% of the isolates. There has been no change in the frequency of fluconazole resistance in C. albicans but some of the other species now being isolated from blood are constitutively more resistant to this drug. Nevertheless, for most non-neutropenic patients with candidemia, fluconazole is a reasonable choice for initial therapy. In the neutropenic patient, candidemia is now uncommon. Deep candida infections in neutropenic patients are usually being treated empirically with an amphotericin B formulation. Hepatosplenic candidiasis is usually detected only after recovery from neutropenia but can be suspected by imaging techniques. Improved diagnostic techniques for deep candidiasis in the neutropenic patient remain a critical requirement.

Sequential treatment of deep fungal infections with amphotericin B deoxycholate and amphotericin B colloidal dispersion.

Amphotericin B colloidal dispersion (ABCD) is a novel lipid formulation of amphotericin B designed to diminish toxic effects of the drug. In the following report, nine cases of suspected (n = 4) and proven (n = 5) deep Candida infection, treated sequentially with amphotericin B deoxycholate and ABCD, are presented. The treatment was successful in seven cases. During treatment with amphotericin B deoxycholate, a rise in serum creatinine was observed in seven patients, hypokalemia in five, and metabolic acidosis in four. After replacing amphotericin B deoxycholate with ABCD, laboratory parameters improved in four of the seven patients with increased creatinine, in four of the five patients with hypokalemia, and in two of the four patients with metabolic acidosis. Infusion-related rigors were observed in four patients receiving amphotericin B deoxycholate and in one patient treated with ABCD. Reversible elevation of liver enzymes was found in one patient receiving ABCD. In this study ABCD proved less toxic than amphotericin B deoxycholate. The efficacy of ABCD alone cannot be assessed because of previous treatment with amphotericin B deoxycholate, but sequential treatment of deep Candida infections with amphotericin B deoxycholate and ABCD seems to be an effective therapeutic modality, especially in patients requiring prolonged administration of amphotericin B.

Management of deepCandida infection in surgical and intensive care unit patients

DeepCandida infections are increasing in incidence, especially in non-neutropenic, intensive care patients including neonates. The attributable mortality of candidaemia andcandida peritonitis is 37–38% with a 57% overall mortality. The BSAC set up a working party to develop recommendations for management in the absence of controlled trials. These recommendations focus on the role of the microbiology laboratory, management strategies, the respective roles of amphotericin B, flucytosine and fluconazole and long-term maintenance therapy. The indications for initiation of therapy are given special consideration.

Prophylaxis and treatment of fungal infections with fluconazole in bone marrow transplant patients.

In an open study 31 patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation for various haematological diseases received fluconazole as prophylaxis or treatment of fungal infections. In 26 of these patients an antecedent oral prophylaxis with polyene antimycotics had failed to prevent infections with Candida species. Five of the 31 patients received fluconazole as primary prophylaxis because of non-compliance for polyene antimycotics. Fluconazole was administered orally at a daily dose of 100 mg and 200 mg, respectively (n = 29), or intravenously at a dose of 100 mg and 400 mg (n = 2). Cure or efficient prophylaxis was achieved in 22/31 patients (71%) after a median of 52 (9 to 493+) treatment days. In three patients (10%) Candida was eradicated but the infection reappeared 14-28 days after cessation of the drug; in 6 patients (20%) the infection was persistent or progressive. Four patients developed lethal Aspergillus infection while on fluconazole medication. A moderate and reversible elevation of liver function tests under therapy was observed in 9 patients and was possibly attributable to fluconazole in three of them (10%). One patient developed tremor which resolved after cessation of fluconazole. No other adverse drug reactions could be noted. We conclude that fluconazole is a relatively safe and effective drug for the prevention and treatment of superficial and, possibly, deep Candida infections in severely immunocompromised patients. However, it is presumably without preventive value in Aspergillus infections.

Progress in antifungal chemotherapy.

The field of antifungal chemotherapy is undergoing rapid change at present, with an accelerating pace of introduction of new agents. The problems at present include the need for more effective agents, particularly with novel modes of action. Fungal infection must be considered more frequently in differential diagnosis, and methods developed for early diagnosis. The literature must be improved, with more precise terms. Trials comparing agents are needed, as are studies directed at determining the appropriate length of therapy.In vitro susceptibility testing must be standardized, and clinical correlations examined. Particular problem areas in current therapy are deep candida infections, zygomycotic infections, fungal endocarditis and meningitis, cryptococcosis in AIDS patients, and ocular infections withFusarium species. Immunomodulating or “pro-host” drugs present an as yet unexplored avenue for clinical therapy. Regimes to prevent fungal infection need improvement. Until the needed advances occur, we must be resourceful in minimizing the toxicity of the agents presently available.

Characteristics of Dermal Invasion in Experimental Cutaneous Candidiasis Leucopenic Mice

The course of experimental cutaneous Candida albicans infections produced in mice made leucopenic by the administration of cyclophosphamide was compared to that in untreated animals. In the latter, neutrophils characteristically infiltrated the area of infection and the organisms were virtually always confined to the epidermis. However, even though many fewer foci of infection were associated with neutrophils in the cyclophosphamide-treated animals, a majority of these foci were also unable to penetrate past the epidermis. Although Candida yeast proliferated relatively poorly when cultured in homogenates of skin lacking the epidermis, Candida pseudohyphae could invade into the dermis if inoculated skin was isolated from normal animals and cultured in vitro, or if the epidermis was removed by gentle scraping prior to inoculation with Candida yeast onto the remaining skin of leucopenic animals. Therefore, in the absence of neutrophil contact and killing of Candida pseudohyphae in the epidermis, other cutaneous defense mechanisms appear to be capable of preventing invasion of a majority of the organisms into the dermis. These findings may help to explain why deep Candida infections are rare in patients who have extensive superficial candidiasis.

Problems in antifungal chemotherapy.

The field of antifungal chemotherapy is undergoing rapid change at present, with an accelerating pace of introduction of new agents. The problems at present include the need for more effective agents, particularly with novel modes of action. Fungal infection must be considered more frequently in differential diagnosis, and methods developed for early diagnosis. The literature must be improved, with more precise terms. Trials comparing agents are needed, as are studies directed at determining the appropriate length of therapy. In vitro susceptibility testing must be standardized, and clinical correlations examined. Particular problem areas in current therapy are deep candida infections, zygomycotic infections, fungal endocarditis and meningitis, cryptococcosis in AIDS patients, and ocular infections with Fusarium species. Immunomodulating or "pro-host" drugs present an as yet unexplored avenue for clinical therapy. Regimes to prevent fungal infection need improvement. Until the needed advances occur, we must be resourceful in minimizing the toxicity of the agents presently available.

Diagnosis of invasive candidosis by enzyme immunoassay of serum antigen.

Enzyme immunoassay was used to measure Candida albicans-related antigen in sera of rabbits and mice infected with C albicans. A range of heterologous antigens tested gave no cross reactions. Of the three patients who were investigated and gave positive reactions, two were confirmed as having deep candida infections. Enzyme immunoassay is efficient, simple, and sensitive, and may prove valuable in the early diagnosis of invasive candida infections.