Role of a NSAID in the apparent cure of a fungal mycetoma

Can nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) be repurposed for fungal infection?

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are an important class of anti-inflammatory drugs widely used for the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders, mild-to-moderate pain, and fever. This review aimed to explain the functional role and possible mechanisms of the antifungal effects of NSAIDs alone or in combination with antifungal drugs in vitro and in vivo. Several studies reported that NSAIDs such as aspirin, ibuprofen, diclofenac, indomethacin, ketorolac, celecoxib, flurbiprofen, and nimesulide had antifungal activities in vitro, either fungistatic or fungicidal, against different strains of Candida, Aspergillus, Cryptococcus, Microsporum, and Trichophyton species. These drugs inhibited biofilm adhesion and development, and yeast-to-hypha conversion which may be related to a prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)/PGEx-dependent mechanism. Modulating PGE2 levels by NSAIDs during fungal infection can be introduced as a possible mechanism to overcome. In addition, some important mechanisms of the antifungal activities of NSAIDs and their new derivatives on fungi and host immune responses are summarized. Overall, we believe that using NSAIDs along with classical antifungal drugs has the potential to be investigated as a novel therapeutic strategy in clinical studies. Furthermore, combination therapy can help manage resistant strains, increase the efficacy of antifungal drugs, and reduce toxicity.

Eumycetoma Medical Treatment: Past, Current Practice, Latest Advances and Perspectives

Mycetoma is a neglected tropical disease that is associated with poor communities and socioeconomically impaired individuals in the tropical and sub-tropical areas. Interestingly, the disease is caused by either bacteria (actinomycetoma) or fungus (eumycetoma). The latter form of the disease, eumycetoma, is the most common type in Africa. Eumycetoma is characterized by a prolonged disease duration and low cure rate. The effective case management of eumycetoma largely depends on the accurate diagnosis and identification of the causative agent to the species level and evaluating its susceptibility to the available drugs. This review summarizes the currently available and used antifungal agents for the treatment of eumycetoma and discusses optimizing the newly developed antifungals as a potential second line for eumycetoma treatment.

Clinical Features of Mycetoma and the Appropriate Treatment Options

Mycetoma is a chronic, suppurative and debilitating granulomatous infection seen mainly in tropical and subtropical areas and is now declared as a neglected tropical disease by the World Health Organization. The clinical diagnosis is usually characterized by a classical triad of localized swelling, underlying sinus tracts, and production of grains or granules, but unusual presentations are also seen. It is classified into eumycetoma caused by the fungus, and actinomycetoma caused by the bacteria. The clinical presentation of both is almost similar and a definite diagnosis is essential before starting the treatment as it differs for both. Surgical debulking followed by a prolonged course of medical therapy now forms the mainstay of treatment due to the long course of the disease and suboptimal response. This review focuses on the various usual as well as unusual clinical presentations of mycetoma, established treatment regimens as well as recent changes in the mode of administration of drugs and newer drugs for mycetoma.

The synthetic synergistic cinnamon oil CIN-102 is active against Madurella mycetomatis, the most common causative agent of mycetoma

Mycetoma is a devastating neglected tropical infection of the subcutaneous tissue and most commonly caused by the fungus Madurella mycetomatis. Treatment of mycetoma consists of a combination of a long term antifungal treatment with itraconazole and surgery. However, treatment is associated with low success rates. Therefore, there is a need to identify novel treatments for mycetoma. CIN-102 is a synthetic partial copy of cinnamon oils with activity against many pathogenic bacteria and fungi. In this study we determined the in vitro activity of CIN-102 against 21 M. mycetomatis isolates and its in vivo efficacy in a M. mycetomatis infected Galleria mellonella larval model. In vitro, CIN-102 was active against M. mycetomatis with MICs ranging from 32 μg/mL to 512 μg/mL. 128 μg/mL was needed to inhibit the growth in 50% of tested isolates. In vivo, concentrations below the MIC of 40 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg CIN-102 prolonged larval survival, but higher concentrations of CIN-102 did not.

Mycetoma is a tropical infection causing large tumorous lesions on mainly the foot. This infection is most commonly caused by the fungus Madurella mycetomatis. Mycetoma is treated with antifungal agents and surgery but with low success rates. In our search for novel treatments for mycetoma we determined if CIN-102, a synthetic oil that resembles cinnamon oil, would be therapeutic in mycetoma. We therefore determined the activity of this oil against the fungus in vitro. We found that CIN-102 could inhibit M. mycetomatis growth in vitro. To determine if CIN-102 was also active against the mycetoma grain in vivo, we determined the efficacy in our Galleria mellonella grain model. Interestingly, CIN-102 was found to be effective in the larvae at a low concentrations.

Epidemiological profile of eumycetomas in Rabat, Morocco, over 40 years

Eumycetomas are chronic subcutaneous pseudo-tumoral infections, endemic in arid tropical areas, which are caused by exogenous fungi that produce grains in vivo. The objective of our work is to establish their epidemiological, clinical and mycological profile in our Moroccan context. Therefore, we conducted a retrospective study, extending from 1975 to 2019, compiling all cases of eumycetomas that were diagnosed in the parasitology-mycology laboratory of the Ibn Sina University Hospital of Rabat. The diagnosis, based on the swabbing of exudates and eventual grains or the study of biopsies, included the direct examination of 30% KOH mounts, the realization of appositions colored by May-Grünwald-Giemsa and the incubation on 3 Sabouraud media at 27° and 37°C. In 44 years, 12 cases of eumycetoma have been diagnosed, with a male to female ratio of 5:1 and a mean age of 44.8 years. The lesions, evolving from 1 to 30 years, were podal in 10 cases, popliteal and gluteal in one case each, with osteolysis in 3 patients. The collected grains were black in 9 cases, white in 2 others. Direct examination was unanimously positive, revealing entangled hyphae, whilst culture isolated Madurella sp. in 9 cases, Trichophyton rubrum, Acremonium sp. in one case each and remained sterile in the last case. The treatment was medical in 8 cases, medico-surgical in 3 others, with loss of sight of most patients.

Closing the mycetoma knowledge gap

On 28th May 2016, mycetoma was recognized as a neglected tropical disease by the World Health Organization. This was the result of a 4-year journey starting in February 2013 with a meeting of global mycetoma experts. Knowledge gaps were identified and included the incidence, prevalence, and mapping of mycetoma; the mode of transmission; the development of methods for early diagnosis; and better treatment. In this review, we review the road to recognition, the ISHAM working group meeting in Argentina, and we address the progress made in closing the knowledge gaps since 2013. Progress included adding another 9000 patients to the literature, which allowed us to update the prevalence map on mycetoma. Furthermore, based on molecular phylogeny, species names were corrected and four novel mycetoma causative agents were identified. By mapping mycetoma causative agents an association with Acacia trees was found. For early diagnosis, three different isothermal amplification techniques were developed, and novel antigens were discovered. To develop better treatment strategies for mycetoma patients, in vitro susceptibility tests for the coelomycete agents of black grain mycetoma were developed, and the first randomized clinical trial for eumycetoma started early 2017.

[Mycetoma and their treatment]

Mycetoma are chronic subcutaneous infections, endemic in dry tropical regions. It can be caused either by actinomycetes or by fungi, presenting as filamentous grains in vivo. The foot is the most common localization. The main complication is osseous involvement. Patients are rural workers living in areas situated far from medical centers. Too often, they reach well-equipped hospitals with advanced mutilating lesions. Early case detection is the first condition for good therapeutic results. Clinical presentations of actinomycetoma and eumycetoma are similar, only biological diagnosis can distinguish the two etiological forms. This distinction is essential as medical therapy for each is radically different. Precise identification of the causal agent is required for targeted treatment but it can only be realized in rare specialized laboratories. For actinomycetoma, standard therapy is trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole (STX). Duration of treatment period is one-year minimum. In case of poor response to STX or high risk of dissemination, a combination with amikacin gave high cure rate. Other options as amoxicillin-clavulanate are available. Medical cure of actinomycetoma is generally obtained with antibiotic treatments and surgical indications are exceptional. Disappointing results were observed using antifungal in the treatment of eumycetoma and medical therapy must be completed with surgical excision. Itraconazole is now the most used drug, new triazoles are on evaluation.