Abstract:
Opportunistic molds have emerged during the past decade as important causes of morbidity and mortality
in some group of patients. At present Aspergillus spp. is one the most common cause of infection in bone
marrow/stem cell transplant recipients and mucorales are increasingly reported as causing lethal
infections, despite aggressive medical and surgical interventions. In addition, rare emerging molds are
becoming a more common cause a deep and invasive fungal infections. Both hyaline hyphomycetes and
black fungus species are increasingly reported as causing nosocomial mycoses (pneumonia, CNS
infections and disseminated infections) refractory to conventional therapy. Fusarium spp. has been
implicated in nosocomial outbreaks of respiratory and disseminated mycosis. Scedosporium spp. cause
disseminated and localized infections in hospitalized patients. Paecilomyces lilacinus and Scopulariopsis
brevicaulis are rare emerging hyphomycete that can cause nosocomial invasive infections in
immunocompromised patients, and Alternaria spp. has been described in cases of deep infection in solid
organ transplant recipients. Several factors have been signalled as causes of the emergence of rare
moulds at hospital. Environmental changes, antimicrobial pressure, an expanding population of
immunocompromised hosts and an increasing of capabilities to identify rare fungi are the most commonly
argued. It should be noted that emergent fungal infections would continue to increase in these settings.
Efforts should be made to identify nosocomial emerging molds at species level and to know susceptibility
profile of these organisms. Correct characterization of these species can be significant at therapeutic level
in view of their distinct antifungal susceptibility profile. DNA amplification-base methods could be used for
characterization of emerging pathogens. Early diagnosis procedures and new therapeutic approaches can
be also needed.
2006
abstract No:
S26
Full conference title:
16th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
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- ECCMID 16th (2006)