The impact of the updated EORTC/MSG criteria on the classification of hematological patients with suspected invasive pulmonary aspergillosis

ObjectivesOur aim was to evaluate the effect of the updated European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) and Mycoses Study Group 2019 definitions for invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) on patient classification and the related all-cause 12-week mortality.MethodsIn this retrospective cohort study from our tertiary care centre, we reclassified patients with haematological malignancy who underwent bronchoalveolar lavage between 2014 and 2019 for suspected IPA using the novel EORTC 2019 criteria. We performed receiver operating characteristic curve analysis to define the optimal cut-off for positive PCR and galactomannan and present survival analyses and their possible association with these diagnostic criteria through post hoc comparisons with log rank and Cox regression.ResultsFrom 323 episodes of suspected IPA in 282 patients, 73 were reclassified: 31 (42.5%) from possible to probable IPA, 5 (6.8%) from EORTC criteria not met to probable IPA, and 37 (50.7%) from EORTC criteria not met to possible IPA. Probable IPA increased therefore 11.1% (64/323, 19.8% to 100/323, 30.9%), mostly due to positive PCR (31/36, 86.1%). There was no difference in mortality between newly defined possible and probable IPA (log rank p = 0.950). Mortality was higher in probable cases with lower cycle thresholds (Ct values) versus higher Ct values (p = 0.004). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed an optimal Ct value cut-off of 36.8 with a sensitivity of 75% (95% CI 64.9%–85.1%) and a specificity of 61.7% (95% CI 53.5–69.9) for 12-week mortality.DiscussionThe new EORTC criteria led to 11.1% more probable IPA diagnoses, mostly due to Aspergillus PCR. Restricting positive PCR to below a certain threshold might improve the discrimination of the new EORTC IPA categories for mortality.     

Synthetic conjugate peptide Fba-Met6 (MP12) induces complement-mediated resistance against disseminated Candida albicans

The fungal genus Candida includes common commensals of the human mucosal membranes, and the most prevalently isolated species, C. albicans, poses a threat of candidemia and disseminated infection associated with an unacceptably high mortality rate and an immense $4 billion burden (US) yearly. Nevertheless, the demand for a vaccine remains wholly unfulfilled and increasingly pressing. We developed a double-peptide construct that is feasible for use in humans with the intention of preventing morbid infection by targeting epitopes derived from fructose bisphosphate aldolase (Fba) and methionine synthase (Met6) which are expressed on the C. albicans cell surface. To test the applicability of the design, we vaccinated mice via the intramuscular (IM) route with the conjugate denoted Fba-Met6 MP12 and showed that the vaccine enhanced survival against a lethal challenge. Because overall endpoint IgG1 and IgG2a antibody titers were robust and these mouse subclasses are associated with protective functionality, we investigated the potential of Fba and Met6 specific antibodies to facilitate the well-defined anti-Candida response by complement, which opsonizes fungi for degradation by primary effectors. Notably, reductions in the fungal burdens and enhanced survival were both abrogated in MP12-vaccinated mice that were pre-challenge dosed with cobra venom factor (CVF), a complement depleting factor. Altogether, we demonstrated that complement is relevant to MP12-based protection against disseminated C. albicans, delineating that a novel, multivalent targeted vaccine against proteins on the surface of C. albicans can enhance the natural response to infection.     

Allergic fungal sinusitis— A clinico-pathological study

The co-existence of fungal elements in allergic nasal Polyposis, has given rise to a distinct clinical entity known as ‘Allergic fungal sinusitis ’ (AF’S). Many a time, these fungal elements may not be diagnosed pre-operatively by routine diagnostic nasal endoscopy or CT scan of paranasal sinuses, due to the florid presentation of nasal polyps, which usually obscure the underlying fungal pathology. The diagnosis is often made intra-operatively. The post-operative confirmation of AFS is by histopathology, fungal smear, fungal culture, allergic murin study and fungal specific IgE titres. We report a series often such cases done in our institution, which highlight that AFS should be considered as a differential diagnosis in Sinonasal Polyposis cases, for their effective management.     

肾移植术后肺部真菌感染的诊治

目的　探讨肾移植术后肺部真菌感染的诊断与治疗。　方法　回顾性分析 4 3例肾移植术后肺部真菌感染患者的临床资料。男 35例 ,女 8例 ,平均年龄 32岁。发病时间平均为术后 5 9d。　结果　 4 3例患者中 ,白色念珠菌 16例 ,克柔念珠菌 4例 ,近平滑念珠菌 2例 ,曲霉菌 4例 ,毛霉菌 3例 ,新型隐球菌 1例 ,奴卡菌 2例 ,其中 14例有细菌、巨细胞病毒混合感染。 11例培养阴性。氟康唑10 0mg/次 ,3次 /d ,连续 10d ,治愈 2 3例 ;两性霉素B脂质体 5 0mg/d ,连续 10d ,治愈 17例 ;死亡 3例。　结论　肺部真菌感染是肾移植术后的严重并发症 ,死亡率高。早期诊断与治疗效果良好。     

Non-ulcerative fungal keratitis diagnosed by posterior lamellar biopsy*

We report a case of Fusarium solani keratitis which highlights the difficulties often associated with management of fungal corneal infections. This case demonstrates several unusual and interesting features: the occurrence of deep fungal pathology after superficial injury, the difficulties encountered in attempting to isolate and identify the causative organism, and the protracted course taken by an organism often noted to be rapidly destructive. These features necessitated an individual approach to therapy, employing unconventional medical and surgical techniques to achieve a satisfactory outcome     

Lessons to be learned from a complicated case of rhino-cerebral mucormycosis in a renal allograft recipient

Fungal infections still represent a serious complication after organ transplantation. Early diagnosis and aggressive treatment are crucial. Because of the many diagnostic problems involved, we present a case of mucormycosis--primarily affecting the paranasal sinuses with later intracranial extension--in a highly immunized recipient of a third renal transplant. Although fungal infection was suspected from various imaging techniques, only the detection of typical fungal hyphae in the infected tissue was diagnostic. Neither the blood tests and cerebrospinal fluid examinations performed nor cultures from maxillary sinus fluid were of any diagnostic help. Surgical debridement from a transnasal as well as an intracranial approach and systemic amphotericin B together with the discontinuation of immunosuppression after removal of the rejected graft were able to save the patient. This case stresses the importance of early diagnosis that can only be made from tissue biopsies and allows appropriate timely treatment.     

Identification of cytotoxic principles from Fusarium avenaceum using bioassay-guided fractionation

The cytotoxicity of extracts from rice cultures of five Fusarium avenaceum strains against the porcine epithelial kidney cell-line PK-15 was investigated using the Alamar Blue™ assay. After the identification of known fungal metabolites, cytotoxic extracts were fractionated using semi-preparative reversed-phase HPLC and normal phase LC, and the fractions were tested for cytotoxicity. In this way, two different groups of metabolites were identified as the major cytotoxic principles of the extracts. High concentrations of enniatins, especially enniatins B and B1, inhibited the metabolic activity of PK-15 cells. Furthermore, an unidentified metabolite, produced in high amounts by a strain that produced relatively small amounts of enniatins, was also found to be cytotoxic to PK-15 cells. This study shows that enniatins, a group of cyclic depsipeptides, which have been ignored as significant contributors to the toxicity of fungal extracts, may account for most of the observed effect for F. avenaceum.     

新生儿重症监护病房侵袭性霉菌感染的临床分析

目的分析新生儿重症监护病房(NICU)侵袭性霉菌感染的发生率、临床表现、治疗及预后,以及引起霉菌感染的危险因素。方法总结1995~2004年10年间我院NICU侵袭性霉菌感染病例,分析霉菌感染发生的危险因素及氟康唑的疗效。结果(1)同期NICU收治的1 854例患儿中32例发生霉菌感染,发生率为1.73%,死亡12例,病死率37.5%;(2)发生霉菌感染的时间平均为入院后(10.4±7.3)d,表现为霉菌性败血症、脑膜炎、腹膜炎、肺炎,症状包括发热(68.8%)、反应差(71.9%)、呼吸增快(81.3%)或呼吸暂停(46.9%)、腹胀(31.3%)、胃肠营养不耐受(25%)、休克(25%)、皮疹(18.8%)、外周血白细胞增高(65.6%);(3)霉菌感染的危险因素中,低出生体重和机械通气是发生霉菌感染的高危因素(χ2=10.68,P<0.005;χ2=36.2,P<0.005);(4)病原学检查结果以白色念珠菌为主,28例(87.5%);(5)接受氟康唑治疗患儿预后优于非氟康唑治疗者(χ2=7.03,P<0.05)。结论霉菌已成为NICU院内感染的一个重要的致病菌;白色念珠菌是主要的致病菌;引起霉菌感染的危险因素有早产、极低出生体重、机械通气;氟康唑是一种有效的抗霉菌药,适用于早产儿及新生儿。