In a retrospective analysis, 18 instances of invasive fungal infections were observed in 512 (3.5%) renal transplant recipients. These included candidiasis (8), aspergillosis (5), cryptococcosis (3) and zygomycosis (2). All patients with candidiasis had Candida isolated from blood and one or more additional sites. One of them had superadded fungaemia with Torulopsis glabrata. Pulmonary disease ...

Invasive fungal infections are a primary cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with hematological malignancies. Establishing a definite diagnosis of invasive fungal infection in febrile neutropenic patients is particularly challenging and time-consuming, but a delay of antifungal treatment leads to higher mortality. This situation has lead to the strategy of initiation "empirical" antifu...

BACKGROUND Invasive fungal infection (IFI) is a leading cause of infection-related mortality among kidney allograft recipients.  OBJECTIVE To estimate the incidence and etiology of systemic fungal infection in renal allograft recipients in Sydney transplant facility. METHODS 471 kidney recipients, transplanted between 2000 and 2010 at the Westmead Hospital renal transplantation center, Sydn...

Early treatment of invasive fungal infections (IFIs) is essential for optimal clinical outcomes. Standard antifungal drugs (polyenes, azoles and echinocandins) are not predictably effective against emerging yeasts and filamentous fungi and may cause undesirable side effects. Species identification can guide antifungal selection for invasive candidiasis, but not less common moulds such as Scedos...

Voriconazole, a second-generation and broad-spectrum triazole derivative of fluconazole, inhibits the cytochrome P450 (CYP)-dependent enzyme 14-α-sterol demethylase, which is a pivotal step in cell membrane ergosterol synthesis in fungi. CYP2C19, CYP3A4, flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO), and to a lesser extent CYP2C9 contribute to the oxidative metabolism of voriconazole by human liver mic...

I read with great interest an article of Ez-zatzadegan, et al, recently published in IJOTM [1]. They reported their experience about the incidence and etiology of inva-sive fungal infections (IFIs) among 471 kidney transplant recipients within a decade. I agree that the recent reports show a decline in the number of IFIs after kidney transplan-tation; however, IFIs are associated with high mort...

The spectrum of invasive fungal infections (IFIs) continues to evolve with the emergence of rare and resistant fungal pathogens. Clinicians are faced with difficult diagnostic and treatment challenges in the management of immunocompromised patients at high risk of developing IFIs. Early and appropriate antifungal therapy is essential for a successful outcome when treating invasive mycoses. The ...

Invasive fungal infection (IFI) is a rare but serious complication of traumatic injury. The purpose of this article is to review the epidemiology, natural history, mycology, risk factors, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes associated with post-traumatic IFI in military and civilian populations. The epidemiology of post-traumatic IFI is poorly characterized, but incidence appears to be rising. P...

Cushing's syndrome is a condition characterized by elevated cortisol levels that can result from either augmented endogenous production or exogenous administration of corticosteroids. The predisposition to fungal infections among patients with hypercortisolemia has been noted since Cushing's original description of the disease. We describe here a patient with endogenous Cushing's syndrome secon...

Recent studies conducted in Brazil(1-3) have stressed the importance of the reversed halo sign (RHS) in the diagnosis of lung diseases in immunocompetent patients. However, the RHS in immunocompromised patients has not received the same emphasis. Here, we report the case of a 51-year-old female patient who presented with a 10-day history of generalized ecchymosis and weakness. A complete blood ...