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Journal of Clinical Microbiology Dec 2023Dermatophyte infections (a.k.a. ringworm, tinea) affect an estimated 20%-25% of the world's population. In North America, most dermatophytoses are caused by or species...
Dermatophyte infections (a.k.a. ringworm, tinea) affect an estimated 20%-25% of the world's population. In North America, most dermatophytoses are caused by or species complexes. Severe and antifungal-resistant dermatophytoses are a growing global public health problem. A new species of the species complex, , has recently emerged and is notable for the severe infections it causes, its propensity for antifungal resistance, and its global spread. In this issue of the , C. F. Cañete-Gibas, J. Mele, H. P. Patterson, et al. (J Clin Microbiol 61:e00562-23, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1128/JCM.00562-23) summarize the results of speciation and AFST performed on North American dermatophyte isolates received at a fungal diagnostic reference laboratory. Within their collection, 18.6% of isolates were resistant to terbinafine (a first-line oral antifungal for dermatophytoses), and similar proportions of and demonstrated terbinafine resistance. The authors also found that has been present in North America since at least 2017. These findings highlight the importance of increased surveillance efforts to monitor trends in severe and antifungal-resistant dermatophytoses and the need for antifungal stewardship efforts, the success of which is contingent upon improving laboratory capacity for dermatophyte speciation and AFST.
Topics: Humans; Terbinafine; Antifungal Agents; Arthrodermataceae; Tinea; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Trichophyton; Drug Resistance, Fungal
PubMed: 38014979
DOI: 10.1128/jcm.00903-23 -
Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia 2024
Review
Topics: Child; Humans; Erythema Nodosum; Tinea Capitis; Trichophyton
PubMed: 38007316
DOI: 10.1016/j.abd.2023.02.009 -
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) Oct 2023Dermatological disorders are highly prevalent among children in Pakistan. The present cross-sectional study aims to identify the spectrum of dermatological conditions...
Dermatological disorders are highly prevalent among children in Pakistan. The present cross-sectional study aims to identify the spectrum of dermatological conditions among children and adolescents in Pakistan. A total of 582 patients (50.9% males; 49.1% females) were included in the study based on their age (5.7 ± 4.1 years), dermatological condition, and epidemiology. The youngest patient was aged ten days, whereas the eldest was seventeen. Age criteria were further stratified into three categories: infants and toddlers (≤5 years), children (≥5 to <12 years), and adolescents (≥12 to <18 years). Amongst them, the majority was from Punjab (81.6%), while the other regions included were Azad Jammu and Kashmir (14.4%), Islamabad (3.3%), and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (0.7%). Scabies was the highest reported skin condition with 281 (45.55%) patients, followed by 114 (19.6%) with eczema, 60 (10.3%) with dermatitis, 33 (5.7%) with tinea capitis, 17 (2.9%) with tinea corporis, 16 (2.7%) with impetigo, and 15 (2.6%) with folliculitis. Other conditions include urticaria, burns, infections, pediculosis, tinea inguinalis, tinea faciei, nappy rashes, alopecia, warts, tinea incognito, tinea cruris, and acne vulgaris. The chi-squared test showed a high prevalence of tinea corporis and acne among adolescents (12-17 years), whereas eczema, dermatitis, and impetigo were more prevalent among infants and toddlers. Pets or livestock and poor hygiene were found to be highly reported risk factors for many dermatological conditions like scabies and fungal infections. Dermatological conditions are common in younger individuals, but unfortunately, many children do not receive the desired medical assistance.
Topics: Male; Infant; Female; Humans; Adolescent; Impetigo; Scabies; Cross-Sectional Studies; Pakistan; Tinea; Eczema
PubMed: 38003954
DOI: 10.3390/medicina59111905 -
Drug Discovery Today Jan 2024Recalcitrant nail plate infections can be life-long problems because localizing antifungal agents into infected tissues is problematic. In this systematic review, guided... (Review)
Review
Recalcitrant nail plate infections can be life-long problems because localizing antifungal agents into infected tissues is problematic. In this systematic review, guided by the SPIDER method, we extracted chemical nail permeation data for 38 compounds from 16 articles, and analyzed the data using quantitative structure-property relationships (QSPRs). Our analysis demonstrated that low-molecular weight was essential for effective nail penetration, with <120 g/mol being preferred. Interestingly, chemical polarity had little effect on nail penetration; therefore, small polar molecules, which effectively penetrate the nail, but not the skin, should be set as the most desirable target chemical property in new post-screen onychomycosis candidate selections.
Topics: Humans; Administration, Topical; Antifungal Agents; Nails; Onychomycosis; Skin; Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship
PubMed: 38000719
DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2023.103844 -
Journal of Fungi (Basel, Switzerland) Nov 2023Most fungal species are commensals and non-pathogenic to plants, humans, or animals. However, several species of the , , , and genera are common causes of disease, even...
Most fungal species are commensals and non-pathogenic to plants, humans, or animals. However, several species of the , , , and genera are common causes of disease, even for immunocompetent individuals. Besides mucosal damage, fungi may contribute to a skin barrier impairment, favoring sensitization and allergy development. A total of 68 allergic dogs were selected from a veterinary dermatology and allergy outpatient consultation for conditions related to both overgrowth and other fungal complications. The allergy diagnosis was made through anamnesis and current clinical criteria, with the involved allergenic species being identified by intradermal tests (IDTs) and allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) determination in serum. , , and showed as the higher sensitization species from house dust mites, grass pollen, and fungi, respectively. Significant correlations at < 0.05 were found between sensitization to and grass pollens, and , , , and dust/storage mites, and between fungi like mix and or . A significant correlation was also found between sensitization to the mix and , , or . Rather severe dermatitis was observed when a positive IDT to was found, regardless of the detection of circulating sIgE, allowing us to consider the usefulness of both the IDT and the sIgE for a systematic diagnosis of allergy to fungi.
PubMed: 37998880
DOI: 10.3390/jof9111075 -
Einstein (Sao Paulo, Brazil) 2023A 49-year-old patient with changes in the nails of the hallux for 10 years was diagnosed with onychomycosis. The identity of the causative agent was confirmed as...
A 49-year-old patient with changes in the nails of the hallux for 10 years was diagnosed with onychomycosis. The identity of the causative agent was confirmed as Cladosporium halotolerans from the Cladosporium sphaerospermum species complex using molecular techniques. MALDI-TOF identified the agent as C. sphaerospermum complex species. Overall, species such as onychomycosis agents should attract special attention to avoid mistakes in the identification process while considering a probable contaminant as responsible for the disease. These species deserve attention since there are rare descriptions of them as causes of onychomycosis. It is important to recognize them as causes of disease and not just as a probable contaminant.
Topics: Humans; Middle Aged; Onychomycosis
PubMed: 37991090
DOI: 10.31744/einstein_journal/2023RC0326 -
Emerging Infectious Diseases Dec 2023We report a patient from Panama who had lobomycosis caused by Paracoccidioides (Lacazia) loboi. We used combined clinical-epidemiologic and phylogenetic data, including...
We report a patient from Panama who had lobomycosis caused by Paracoccidioides (Lacazia) loboi. We used combined clinical-epidemiologic and phylogenetic data, including a new gene sequence dataset on this fungus in Panama, for analysis. Findings contribute useful insights to limited knowledge of this fungal infection in the Mesoamerican Biologic Corridor.
Topics: Humans; Lobomycosis; Lacazia; Paracoccidioides; Phylogeny; Panama
PubMed: 37987584
DOI: 10.3201/eid2912.231092 -
Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia 2024
Topics: Child; Humans; Tinea Capitis; Trichophyton; Antifungal Agents
PubMed: 37985304
DOI: 10.1016/j.abd.2023.03.008 -
Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia 2024
Topics: Adult; Humans; Tinea Capitis; Arthrodermataceae; Trichophyton
PubMed: 37985299
DOI: 10.1016/j.abd.2023.04.005 -
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Nov 2023Mycetoma is a chronic, incapacitating, destructive inflammatory disease with many serious damaging impacts. Currently, there is no control or prevention program as many... (Review)
Review
Mycetoma is a chronic, incapacitating, destructive inflammatory disease with many serious damaging impacts. Currently, there is no control or prevention program as many of its epidemiological characteristics, such as the causative organisms' ecological niche, natural habitat, primary reservoir, transmission mode, geographical distribution, incidence, and prevalence, remain unclear. This may be due to a lack of research interest, as mycetoma is still a neglected disease and the scarcity of accurate molecular diagnostic techniques in disease-endemic regions for accurate causative microorganisms identification and mapping. With this background, this study set out to address this knowledge gap by considering the mycetoma environmental occurrence predictors. The medical literature obtained data showed a close association between mycetoma occurrence and its environment. The causative microorganisms are available in the environment in active or dormant forms. Animal dung may be a natural niche and reservoir for these organisms, and thorns may facilitate the subcutaneous inoculation. Some environmental factors, such as the soil type and consistency, temperature, water sources, aridity index, and thorny trees, may be risk factors. The population in endemic areas socioeconomic, hygiene, and health education status are contributory factors for mycetoma. The individual's genetic and immunological backgrounds may determine the disease's susceptibility and resistance. Environmental conditions and personal hygiene improvement are mandatory to reduce disease occurrence. Mycetoma spatial mapping can detect disease cluster areas and then develop public health strategies for early case detection and management to reduce the disease burden. More research interests and facilities are needed to understand disease pathogenesis and appropriate patient management better.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Mycetoma; Soil; Ecosystem; Health Education; Neglected Diseases
PubMed: 37971968
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011736