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Clinical Infectious Diseases : An... Feb 2016It is important to realize that guidelines cannot always account for individual variation among patients. They are not intended to supplant physician judgment with...
It is important to realize that guidelines cannot always account for individual variation among patients. They are not intended to supplant physician judgment with respect to particular patients or special clinical situations. IDSA considers adherence to these guidelines to be voluntary, with the ultimate determination regarding their application to be made by the physician in the light of each patient's individual circumstances.
Topics: Animals; Antifungal Agents; Candidiasis; Humans
PubMed: 26679628
DOI: 10.1093/cid/civ933 -
Journal of Clinical Microbiology Feb 2018has emerged globally as a multidrug-resistant health care-associated fungal pathogen. Recent reports highlight ongoing challenges due to organism misidentification,... (Review)
Review
has emerged globally as a multidrug-resistant health care-associated fungal pathogen. Recent reports highlight ongoing challenges due to organism misidentification, high rates of antifungal drug resistance, and significant patient mortality. The predilection for transmission within and between health care facilities possibly promoted by virulence factors that facilitate skin colonization and environmental persistence is unique among species. This minireview details the global emergence of and discusses issues relevant to clinical microbiology laboratories, hospital infection control, and antimicrobial stewardship efforts.
Topics: Antifungal Agents; Antimicrobial Stewardship; Candida; Candidiasis; Clinical Laboratory Techniques; Cross Infection; Drug Resistance, Fungal; Humans; Skin; Virulence Factors
PubMed: 29167291
DOI: 10.1128/JCM.01588-17 -
Virulence Feb 2013The polymorphic fungus Candida albicans is a member of the normal human microbiome. In most individuals, C. albicans resides as a lifelong, harmless commensal. Under... (Review)
Review
The polymorphic fungus Candida albicans is a member of the normal human microbiome. In most individuals, C. albicans resides as a lifelong, harmless commensal. Under certain circumstances, however, C. albicans can cause infections that range from superficial infections of the skin to life-threatening systemic infections. Several factors and activities have been identified which contribute to the pathogenic potential of this fungus. Among them are molecules which mediate adhesion to and invasion into host cells, the secretion of hydrolases, the yeast-to-hypha transition, contact sensing and thigmotropism, biofilm formation, phenotypic switching and a range of fitness attributes. Our understanding of when and how these mechanisms and factors contribute to infection has significantly increased during the last years. In addition, novel virulence mechanisms have recently been discovered. In this review we present an update on our current understanding of the pathogenicity mechanisms of this important human pathogen.
Topics: Candida albicans; Candidiasis; Humans; Virulence Factors
PubMed: 23302789
DOI: 10.4161/viru.22913 -
Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology &... 2019Esophageal candidiasis (EC) is the most common type of infectious esophagitis. In the gastrointestinal tract, the esophagus is the second most susceptible to candida... (Review)
Review
Esophageal candidiasis (EC) is the most common type of infectious esophagitis. In the gastrointestinal tract, the esophagus is the second most susceptible to candida infection, only after the oropharynx. Immunocompromised patients are most at risk, including patients with HIV/AIDS, leukemia, diabetics, and those who are receiving corticosteroids, radiation, and chemotherapy. Another group includes those who used antibiotics frequently and those who have esophageal motility disorder (cardiac achalasia and scleroderma). Patients complained of pain on swallowing, difficulty swallowing, and pain behind the sternum. On physical examination, there is a plaque that often occurs together with oral thrush. Endoscopic examination is the best approach to diagnose this disease by directly observing the white mucosal plaque-like lesions and exudates adherent to the mucosa. These adherent lesions cannot be washed off with water from irrigation. This disease is confirmed histologically by taking the biopsy or brushings of yeast and pseudohyphae invading mucosal cells. The treatment is by systemic antifungal drugs given orally in a defined course. It is important to differentiate esophageal candidiasis from other forms of infectious esophagitis such as cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, gastroesophageal reflux disease, medication-induced esophagitis, radiation-induced esophageal injury, and inflammatory conditions such as eosinophilic esophagitis. Except for a few complications such as necrotizing esophageal candidiasis, fistula, and sepsis, the prognosis of esophageal candidiasis has been good.
Topics: Antifungal Agents; Candidiasis; Esophagitis; Humans
PubMed: 31772927
DOI: 10.1155/2019/3585136 -
The New England Journal of Medicine Oct 2015
Review
Topics: Antifungal Agents; Candida; Candidiasis, Invasive; Catheter-Related Infections; Drug Resistance, Fungal; Humans
PubMed: 26444731
DOI: 10.1056/NEJMra1315399 -
Clinical Microbiology Reviews Jan 2018The emerging pathogen has been associated with nosocomial outbreaks on five continents. Genetic analysis indicates the simultaneous emergence of separate clades of this... (Review)
Review
The emerging pathogen has been associated with nosocomial outbreaks on five continents. Genetic analysis indicates the simultaneous emergence of separate clades of this organism in different geographical locations. Invasive infection and colonization have been detected predominantly in patients in high-dependency settings and have garnered attention due to variable antifungal resistance profiles and transmission within units instituting a range of infection prevention and control measures. Issues with the identification of using both phenotypic and molecular techniques have raised concerns about detecting the true scale of the problem. This review considers the literature available on and highlights the key unknowns, which will provide direction for further work in this field.
Topics: Candida; Candidiasis; Cross Infection; Drug Resistance, Fungal; Humans
PubMed: 29142078
DOI: 10.1128/CMR.00029-17 -
Current Opinion in Microbiology Dec 2019The fungal species Candida albicans is most frequently associated with biofilm formation in immune-compromised and medically compromised patients, and it is now firmly... (Review)
Review
The fungal species Candida albicans is most frequently associated with biofilm formation in immune-compromised and medically compromised patients, and it is now firmly established that biofilm formation represents a major virulence factor during candidiasis. A growing body of evidence has demonstrated that C. albicans biofilm development is a highly regulated and coordinated process, where adhesive interactions, morphogenetic conversions, and consortial behavior play significant roles. Cells within the biofilms are protected from environmental stresses including host immune defenses and antifungal treatment, which carries important clinical consequences for the treatment of biofilm-associated infections. Dispersal of cells from biofilms represents one of the hallmarks of the biofilm life-style, and in the case of C. albicans dispersed cells are responsible for candidemia and dissemination leading to the establishment of invasive disease.
Topics: Animals; Biofilms; Candida albicans; Candidiasis; Humans; Virulence
PubMed: 31085405
DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2019.04.001 -
Virulence Dec 2022Antifungal resistance to pathogens increases morbidity and mortality of immunosuppressive patients, an emerging crisis worldwide. Understanding the prevalence and... (Review)
Review
Antifungal resistance to pathogens increases morbidity and mortality of immunosuppressive patients, an emerging crisis worldwide. Understanding the prevalence and antifungal susceptibility pattern is necessary to control and treat candidiasis. We aimed to systematically analyse the susceptibility profiles of species published in the last ten years (December 2011 to December 2021) from mainland China. The studies were collected from PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science Direct search engines. Out of 89 included studies, a total of 44,716 isolates were collected, mainly comprising (49.36%), (21.89%), (13.92%), and (11.37%). The lowest susceptibility was detected for azole group; fluconazole susceptibilities against , and were 93.25%, 91.6%, 79.4%, 77.95%, 76%, 50%, and 0% respectively. Amphotericin B and anidulafungin were the most susceptible drugs for all species. Resistance to azole was mainly linked with mutations in , and genes. Mutation in and in and causing resistance to echinocandins was stated in two studies. Gaps in the studies' characteristics were detected, such as 79.77%, 47.19 %, 26.97%, 7.86%, and 4.49% studies did not mention the mortality rates, age, gender, breakpoint reference guidelines, and fungal identification method, respectively. The current study demonstrates the overall antifungal susceptibility pattern of species, gaps in surveillance studies and risk-reduction strategies that could be supportive in candidiasis therapy and for the researchers in their future studies.
Topics: Humans; Amphotericin B; Anidulafungin; Antifungal Agents; Azoles; Candida; Candida albicans; Candida glabrata; Candida parapsilosis; Candida tropicalis; Candidiasis; Echinocandins; Fluconazole; Microbial Sensitivity Tests
PubMed: 36120738
DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2022.2123325 -
The Journal of Antimicrobial... Jul 2023Invasive candidiasis (IC) is a serious infection caused by several Candida species, and the most common fungal disease in hospitals in high-income countries. Despite... (Review)
Review
Invasive candidiasis (IC) is a serious infection caused by several Candida species, and the most common fungal disease in hospitals in high-income countries. Despite overall improvements in health systems and ICU care in the last few decades, as well as the development of different antifungals and microbiological techniques, mortality rates in IC have not substantially improved. The aim of this review is to summarize the main issues underlying the management of adults affected by IC, focusing on specific forms of the infection: IC developed by ICU patients, IC observed in haematological patients, breakthrough candidaemia, sanctuary site candidiasis, intra-abdominal infections and other challenging infections. Several key challenges need to be tackled to improve the clinical management and outcomes of IC patients. These include the lack of global epidemiological data for IC, the limitations of the diagnostic tests and risk scoring tools currently available, the absence of standardized effectiveness outcomes and long-term data for IC, the timing for the initiation of antifungal therapy and the limited recommendations on the optimal step-down therapy from echinocandins to azoles or the total duration of therapy. The availability of new compounds may overcome some of the challenges identified and increase the existing options for management of chronic Candida infections and ambulant patient treatments. However, early identification of patients that require antifungal therapy and treatment of sanctuary site infections remain a challenge and will require further innovations.
Topics: Humans; Adult; Antifungal Agents; Echinocandins; Candidiasis, Invasive; Candidemia
PubMed: 37220664
DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkad139 -
Clinical Microbiology Reviews Jan 2007Invasive candidiasis (IC) is a leading cause of mycosis-associated mortality in the United States. We examined data from the National Center for Health Statistics and... (Review)
Review
Invasive candidiasis (IC) is a leading cause of mycosis-associated mortality in the United States. We examined data from the National Center for Health Statistics and reviewed recent literature in order to update the epidemiology of IC. IC-associated mortality has remained stable, at approximately 0.4 deaths per 100,000 population, since 1997, while mortality associated with invasive aspergillosis has continued to decline. Candida albicans remains the predominant cause of IC, accounting for over half of all cases, but Candida glabrata has emerged as the second most common cause of IC in the United States, and several less common Candida species may be emerging, some of which can exhibit resistance to triazoles and/or amphotericin B. Crude and attributable rates of mortality due to IC remain unacceptably high and unchanged for the past 2 decades. Nonpharmacologic preventive strategies should be emphasized, including hand hygiene; appropriate use, placement, and care of central venous catheters; and prudent use of antimicrobial therapy. Given that delays in appropriate antifungal therapy are associated with increased mortality, improved use of early empirical, preemptive, and prophylactic therapies should also help reduce IC-associated mortality. Several studies have now identified important variables that can be used to predict risk of IC and to help guide preventive strategies such as antifungal prophylaxis and early empirical therapy. However, improved non-culture-based diagnostics are needed to expand the potential for preemptive (or early directed) therapy. Further research to improve diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic strategies is necessary to reduce the considerable morbidity and mortality associated with IC.
Topics: Antifungal Agents; Candida; Candidiasis; Global Health; Humans; Incidence; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Population Surveillance; Risk Factors
PubMed: 17223626
DOI: 10.1128/CMR.00029-06