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Hernando-Ortiz A, Eraso E, Jauregizar N, de Groot PW, Quindós G, Mateo E. Efficacy of the combination of amphotericin B and echinocandins against Candida auris in vitro and in the Caenorhabditis elegans host model. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0208623. [PMID: 38018978 PMCID: PMC10783041 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02086-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Multidrug resistance is a rising problem among non-Candida albicans species, such as Candida auris. This therapeutic problem has been very important during the COVID-19 pandemic. The World Health Organization has included C. auris in its global priority list of health-threatening fungi, to study this emerging multidrug-resistant species and to develop effective alternative therapies. In the present study, the synergistic effect of the combination of amphotericin B and echinocandins has been demonstrated against blood isolates of C. auris. Different susceptibility responses were also observed between aggregative and non-aggregative phenotypes. The antifungal activity of these drug combinations against C. auris was also demonstrated in the Caenorhabditis elegans host model of candidiasis, confirming the suitability and usefulness of this model in the search for solutions to antimicrobial resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ainara Hernando-Ortiz
- Department of Immunology, Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Bilbao, Spain
| | - Elena Eraso
- Department of Immunology, Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Bilbao, Spain
| | - Nerea Jauregizar
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Bilbao, Spain
| | - Piet W.J. de Groot
- Regional Center for Biomedical Research, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - Guillermo Quindós
- Department of Immunology, Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Bilbao, Spain
| | - Estibaliz Mateo
- Department of Immunology, Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Bilbao, Spain
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2
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Hong H, Ximing Y, Jinghan M, Al-danakh A, Shujuan P, Ying L, Yuting Y, Yuehong L, Xingwei Y. Candida auris infection; diagnosis, and resistance mechanism using high-throughput sequencing technology: a case report and literature review. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1211626. [PMID: 38145050 PMCID: PMC10739385 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1211626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Candida auris (C. auris), a recently developing fungal disease with high virulence, easy transmission, and substantial medication resistance in hospitals, poses a growing danger to human health. In 2009, the initial documentation of this disease was made when it was discovered in the ear canal of an elderly Japanese patient. Since its initial isolation, the presence of C. auris across six continents has been a cause for severe concern among medical professionals and scientists. According to recent findings, C. auris is connected with five geographically different lineages and significant rates of antifungal resistance. Furthermore, C. auris infections in healthcare settings lack appropriate treatment options and standardized strategies for prevention and control. This results in many treatment failures and hinders the elimination of C. auris in healthcare institutions. To examine the drug resistance mechanism of C. auris and to aid in clinical therapy, we provide a case of C. auris infection along with a short review of the relevant literature. Clinical presentation An 81-year-old female with cerebral hemorrhage was admitted to the hospital and diagnosed with a urinary catheter-related C. auris. The sample was evaluated and reported in terms of culture, identification, drug sensitivity, and gene sequencing. We also evaluated the relationship between the morphology of the isolated strains and their drug resistance. Whole-genome sequencing yielded the genes ERG11-Y132F, CDR1-E709D, TAC1B-Q503E, and TAC1B-A583S; however, no additional loci included alterations of concern, according to our results. ERG11-Y132F and TAC1B-A583S are drug-resistant gene loci, whereas CDR1-E709D and TAC1B-Q503E are unidentified variants. Conclusion We discover a C. auris case of specific a strain in an old female that has some drug-resistant genes, and some genes may be different from already reported gene sites. Gene locus, mutation, and drug resistance mechanism studies may contribute to the creation of innovative drugs and therapeutic treatments. Clinicians and microbiologists must be aware of this globally spreading yeast, which poses substantial hospital diagnostic, treatment, and infection control challenges. Future multicenter research must be performed to uncover this health threat and provide new, effective treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- He Hong
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Dongzhimen Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Ximing
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Dongzhimen Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Ma Jinghan
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Dongzhimen Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Abdullah Al-danakh
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Pan Shujuan
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Dongzhimen Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Lin Ying
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Dongzhimen Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Yuting
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Dongzhimen Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Liu Yuehong
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Dongzhimen Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yao Xingwei
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Dongzhimen Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
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3
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Horton MV, Holt AM, Nett JE. Mechanisms of pathogenicity for the emerging fungus Candida auris. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011843. [PMID: 38127686 PMCID: PMC10735027 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Candida auris recently emerged as an urgent public health threat, causing outbreaks of invasive infections in healthcare settings throughout the world. This fungal pathogen persists on the skin of patients and on abiotic surfaces despite antiseptic and decolonization attempts. The heightened capacity for skin colonization and environmental persistence promotes rapid nosocomial spread. Following skin colonization, C. auris can gain entrance to the bloodstream and deeper tissues, often through a wound or an inserted medical device, such as a catheter. C. auris possesses a variety of virulence traits, including the capacity for biofilm formation, production of adhesins and proteases, and evasion of innate immune responses. In this review, we highlight the interactions of C. auris with the host, emphasizing the intersection of laboratory studies and clinical observations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark V. Horton
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Ashley M. Holt
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Jeniel E. Nett
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
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4
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Spruijtenburg B, Ahmad S, Asadzadeh M, Alfouzan W, Al-Obaid I, Mokaddas E, Meijer EFJ, Meis JF, de Groot T. Whole genome sequencing analysis demonstrates therapy-induced echinocandin resistance in Candida auris isolates. Mycoses 2023; 66:1079-1086. [PMID: 37712885 DOI: 10.1111/myc.13655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
Candida auris is an emerging, multidrug-resistant yeast, causing outbreaks in healthcare facilities. Echinocandins are the antifungal drugs of choice to treat candidiasis, as they cause few side effects and resistance is rarely found. Previously, immunocompromised patients from Kuwait with C. auris colonisation or infection were treated with echinocandins, and within days to months, resistance was reported in urine isolates. To determine whether the development of echinocandin resistance was due to independent introductions of resistant strains or resulted from intra-patient resistance development, whole genome sequencing (WGS) single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis was performed on susceptible (n = 26) and echinocandin-resistant (n = 6) isolates from seven patients. WGS SNP analysis identified three distinct clusters differing 17-127 SNPs from two patients, and the remaining isolates from five patients, respectively. Sequential isolates within patients had a maximum of 11 SNP differences over a time period of 1-10 months. The majority of isolates with reduced susceptibility displayed unique FKS1 substitutions including a novel FKS1M690V substitution, and nearly all were genetically related, ranging from only three to six SNP differences compared to susceptible isolates from the same patient. Resistant isolates from three patients shared the common FKS1S639F substitution; however, WGS analysis did not suggest a common source. These findings strongly indicate that echinocandin resistance is induced during antifungal treatment. Future studies should determine whether such echinocandin-resistant strains are capable of long-term colonisation, cause subsequent breakthrough candidiasis, have a propensity to cross-infect other patients, or remain viable for longer time periods in the hospital environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bram Spruijtenburg
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Center of Expertise for Mycology Radboud University Medical Center/Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Suhail Ahmad
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait
| | - Mohammad Asadzadeh
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait
| | - Wadha Alfouzan
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait
- Microbiology Unit, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Farwania Hospital, Kuwait City, Kuwait
| | - Inaam Al-Obaid
- Department of Microbiology, Al-Sabah Hospital, Shuwaikh, Kuwait
| | - Eiman Mokaddas
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait
- Department of Microbiology, Ibn-Sina Hospital, Shuwaikh, Kuwait
| | - Eelco F J Meijer
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Center of Expertise for Mycology Radboud University Medical Center/Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jacques F Meis
- Center of Expertise for Mycology Radboud University Medical Center/Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Institute of Translational Research, Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf (CIO ABCD) and Excellence Center for Medical Mycology (ECMM), University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Theun de Groot
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Center of Expertise for Mycology Radboud University Medical Center/Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Bohner F, Papp C, Takacs T, Varga M, Szekeres A, Nosanchuk JD, Vágvölgyi C, Tóth R, Gacser A. Acquired Triazole Resistance Alters Pathogenicity-Associated Features in Candida auris in an Isolate-Dependent Manner. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:1148. [PMID: 38132749 PMCID: PMC10744493 DOI: 10.3390/jof9121148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Fluconazole resistance is commonly encountered in Candida auris, and the yeast frequently displays resistance to other standard drugs, which severely limits the number of effective therapeutic agents against this emerging pathogen. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of acquired azole resistance on the viability, stress response, and virulence of this species. Fluconazole-, posaconazole-, and voriconazole- resistant strains were generated from two susceptible C. auris clinical isolates (0381, 0387) and compared under various conditions. Several evolved strains became pan-azole-resistant, as well as echinocandin-cross-resistant. While being pan-azole-resistant, the 0381-derived posaconazole-evolved strain colonized brain tissue more efficiently than any other strain, suggesting that fitness cost is not necessarily a consequence of resistance development in C. auris. All 0387-derived evolved strains carried a loss of function mutation (R160S) in BCY1, an inhibitor of the PKA pathway. Sequencing data also revealed that posaconazole treatment can result in ERG3 mutation in C. auris. Despite using the same mechanisms to generate the evolved strains, both genotype and phenotype analysis highlighted that the development of resistance was unique for each strain. Our data suggest that C. auris triazole resistance development is a highly complex process, initiated by several pleiotropic factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flora Bohner
- Department of Microbiology, University of Szeged, 6726 Szeged, Hungary; (F.B.); (C.P.); (T.T.); (M.V.); (A.S.); (C.V.)
| | - Csaba Papp
- Department of Microbiology, University of Szeged, 6726 Szeged, Hungary; (F.B.); (C.P.); (T.T.); (M.V.); (A.S.); (C.V.)
| | - Tamas Takacs
- Department of Microbiology, University of Szeged, 6726 Szeged, Hungary; (F.B.); (C.P.); (T.T.); (M.V.); (A.S.); (C.V.)
| | - Mónika Varga
- Department of Microbiology, University of Szeged, 6726 Szeged, Hungary; (F.B.); (C.P.); (T.T.); (M.V.); (A.S.); (C.V.)
| | - András Szekeres
- Department of Microbiology, University of Szeged, 6726 Szeged, Hungary; (F.B.); (C.P.); (T.T.); (M.V.); (A.S.); (C.V.)
| | - Joshua D. Nosanchuk
- Department of Medicine (Infectious Diseases), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA;
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA
| | - Csaba Vágvölgyi
- Department of Microbiology, University of Szeged, 6726 Szeged, Hungary; (F.B.); (C.P.); (T.T.); (M.V.); (A.S.); (C.V.)
| | - Renáta Tóth
- Department of Microbiology, University of Szeged, 6726 Szeged, Hungary; (F.B.); (C.P.); (T.T.); (M.V.); (A.S.); (C.V.)
| | - Attila Gacser
- Department of Microbiology, University of Szeged, 6726 Szeged, Hungary; (F.B.); (C.P.); (T.T.); (M.V.); (A.S.); (C.V.)
- HCEMM-USZ Fungal Pathogens Research Group, Department of Microbiology, University of Szeged, 6726 Szeged, Hungary
- HUN-REN-USZ Pathomechanisms of Fungal Infections Research Group, University of Szeged, 6726 Szeged, Hungary
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6
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Mulet Bayona JV, Tormo Palop N, Salvador García C, Guna Serrano MDR, Gimeno Cardona C. Candida auris from colonisation to candidemia: A four-year study. Mycoses 2023; 66:882-890. [PMID: 37401661 DOI: 10.1111/myc.13626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Candida auris has become a worrisome multi-drug resistant healthcare-associated pathogen due to its capacity to colonise patients and surfaces and to cause outbreaks of invasive infections in critically ill patients. OBJECTIVES This study evaluated the outbreak in our setting in a 4-year period, reporting the risk factors for developing candidemia in previously colonised patients, the therapeutic measures for candidemia and the outcome of candidemia and colonisation cases among all C. auris isolates and their susceptibility to antifungals. METHODS Data were retrospectively collected from patients admitted to Consorcio Hospital General Universitario de Valencia (Spain) from September 2017 to September 2021. A retrospective case-control study was designed to identify risk factors for developing C. auris candidemia in previously colonised patients. RESULTS C. auris affected 550 patients, of which 210 (38.2%) had some clinical sample positive. Isolates were uniformly resistant to fluconazole, 20 isolates were resistant to echinocandins (2.8%) and four isolates were resistant to ampfotericin B (0.6%). There were 86 candidemia cases. APACHE II, digestive disease and catheter isolate were proven to be independent risk factors for developing candidemia in previously colonised patients. Thirty-day mortality rate for C. auris candidemia cases was 32.6%, while for colonisation cases was 33.7%. CONCLUSIONS Candidemia was one of the most frequent and severe infections caused by C. auris. The risk factors identified in this study should help to detect patients who are at more risk of developing candidemia, as long as an adequate surveillance of C. auris colonisation is performed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Vicente Mulet Bayona
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Consorcio Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Nuria Tormo Palop
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Consorcio Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Carme Salvador García
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Consorcio Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Concepción Gimeno Cardona
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Consorcio Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Department of Microbiology and Ecology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
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Asadzadeh M, Alfouzan W, Parker JE, Meis JF, Kelly SL, Joseph L, Ahmad S. Molecular Characterization and Sterol Profiles Identify Nonsynonymous Mutations in ERG2 as a Major Mechanism Conferring Reduced Susceptibility to Amphotericin B in Candida kefyr. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0147423. [PMID: 37358415 PMCID: PMC10434000 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01474-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The molecular basis of reduced susceptibility to amphotericin B (rs-AMB) among any yeasts is poorly defined. Genetic alterations in genes involved in ergosterol biosynthesis and total cell sterols were investigated among clinical Candida kefyr isolates. C. kefyr isolates (n = 81) obtained from 74 patients in Kuwait and identified by phenotypic and molecular methods were analyzed. An Etest was initially used to identify isolates with rs-AMB. Specific mutations in ERG2 and ERG6 involved in ergosterol biosynthesis were detected by PCR sequencing. Twelve selected isolates were also tested by the SensiTitre Yeast One (SYO), and total cell sterols were evaluated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and ERG3 and ERG11 sequencing. Eight isolates from 8 patients showed rs-AMB by Etest, including 2 isolates with additional resistance to fluconazole or to all three antifungals. SYO correctly identified 8 of 8 rs-AMB isolates. A nonsynonymous mutation in ERG2 was detected in 6 of 8 rs-AMB isolates but also in 3 of 73 isolates with a wild-type AMB pattern. One rs-AMB isolate contained a deletion (frameshift) mutation in ERG2. One or more nonsynonymous mutations was detected in ERG6 in 11 of 81 isolates with the rs-AMB or wild-type AMB pattern. Among 12 selected isolates, 2 and 2 isolates contained a nonsynonymous mutation(s) in ERG3 and ERG11, respectively. Ergosterol was undetectable in 7 of 8 rs-AMB isolates, and the total cell sterol profiles were consistent with loss of ERG2 function in 6 rs-AMB isolates and loss of ERG3 activity in another rs-AMB isolate. Our data showed that ERG2 is a major target conferring rs-AMB in clinical C. kefyr isolates. IMPORTANCE Some yeast species exhibit intrinsic resistance or rapidly acquire resistance to azole antifungals. Despite >50 years of clinical use, resistance to amphotericin B (AMB) among yeast species has been extremely rarely reported until recently. Reduced susceptibility to AMB (rs-AMB) among yeast species is, therefore, a matter of serious concern due to the availability of only four classes of antifungal drugs. Recent studies in Candida glabrata, Candida lusitaniae, and Candida auris have identified ERG genes involved in ergosterol biosynthesis as the major targets conferring rs-AMB. The results of this study also show that nonsynonymous mutations in ERG2 impair its function, abolish ergosterol from C. kefyr, and confer rs-AMB. Thus, rapid detection of rs-AMB among clinical isolates will help in proper management of invasive C. kefyr infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Asadzadeh
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait
| | - Wadha Alfouzan
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait
| | - Josie E. Parker
- Molecular Biosciences Division, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Jacques F. Meis
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Center of Expertise in Mycology, Radboudumc, Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Department of Internal Medicine, Excellence Center for Medical Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Steven L. Kelly
- Institute of Life Science, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Swansea University, Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Leena Joseph
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait
| | - Suhail Ahmad
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait
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Asadzadeh M, Alobaid K, Ahmad S, Mazloum S. First Report of Azole-Resistant Aspergillus fumigatus with TR 46/Y121F/T289A Mutations in Kuwait and an Update on Their Occurrence in the Middle East. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:784. [PMID: 37623555 PMCID: PMC10455753 DOI: 10.3390/jof9080784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Pulmonary aspergillosis is a common fungal infection with several clinical manifestations including invasive, allergic and chronic chest diseases. Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) is a leading cause of death in immunocompromised patients, particularly those receiving chemotherapy and among bone marrow transplant recipients. Aspergillus fumigatus is the most prevalent causative agent and voriconazole is the first-line therapy for IPA. In this study, we report the first isolation of voriconazole-resistant A. fumigatus carrying TR46/Y121F/T289A mutations from an immunocompromised pregnant lady in Kuwait. The patient was successfully treated for a probable respiratory infection with caspofungin and voriconazole. The literature review from PubMed has identified itraconazole-resistant clinical and environmental A. fumigatus isolates with TR34/L98H mutations in the cyp51A from several Middle Eastern countries including Kuwait. However, clinical A. fumigatus isolates with cyp51A TR46/Y121F/T289A mutations have not been reported previously from any country in the region while environmental isolates have been reported only from Iran. The source of voriconazole-resistant A. fumigatus CYP51A TR46/Y121F/T289A mutant in our patient remained unknown. Surveillance for azole resistance among clinical and environmental isolates of A. fumigatus is warranted in Kuwait.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Asadzadeh
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Kuwait University, Safat 13110, Kuwait;
| | - Khaled Alobaid
- Mycology Reference Laboratory, Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital, Ministry of Health, Jabriya 46300, Kuwait;
| | - Suhail Ahmad
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Kuwait University, Safat 13110, Kuwait;
| | - Sara Mazloum
- Microbiology Laboratory, Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital, Ministry of Health, South Surra 91711, Kuwait;
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9
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Sharma C, Kadosh D. Perspective on the origin, resistance, and spread of the emerging human fungal pathogen Candida auris. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011190. [PMID: 36952448 PMCID: PMC10035752 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/25/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Cheshta Sharma
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
| | - David Kadosh
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
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Lamoth F. Novel Therapeutic Approaches to Invasive Candidiasis: Considerations for the Clinician. Infect Drug Resist 2023; 16:1087-1097. [PMID: 36855391 PMCID: PMC9968438 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s375625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Invasive candidiasis (IC), due to the yeast pathogen Candida, is still a major cause of in-hospital morbidity and mortality. The limited number of antifungal drug classes and the emergence of multi-resistant Candida species, such as Candida auris and some Candida glabrata isolates, is concerning. However, recent advances in antifungal drug development provide promising perspectives for the therapeutic approach of IC. Notably, three novel antifungal agents, currently in Phase II/III clinical trials, are expected to have an important place for the treatment of IC in the future. Rezafungin is a novel echinocandin with prolonged half-life. Ibrexafungerp and fosmanogepix are two first-in-class antifungal drugs with broad spectrum activity against Candida spp., including C. auris and echinocandin-resistant species. These novel antifungal agents also represent interesting alternative options because of their acceptable oral bioavailability (ibrexafungerp and fosmanogepix) or their large interdose interval (once weekly intravenous administration for rezafungin) for prolonged and/or outpatient treatment of complicated IC. This review discusses the potential place of these novel antifungal drugs for the treatment of IC considering their pharmacologic properties and their preclinical and clinical data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederic Lamoth
- Infectious Diseases Service, Department of Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Correspondence: Frederic Lamoth, Service of Infectious Diseases and Institute of Microbiology, CHUV | Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Rue du Bugnon 48, Lausanne, 1011, Switzerland, Tel +41 21 314 10 10, Email
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11
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Ahmad S, Asadzadeh M. Strategies to Prevent Transmission of Candida auris in Healthcare Settings. CURRENT FUNGAL INFECTION REPORTS 2023; 17:36-48. [PMID: 36718372 PMCID: PMC9878498 DOI: 10.1007/s12281-023-00451-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Purpose of Review Candida auris, a recently recognized yeast pathogen, has become a major public health threat due to the problems associated with its accurate identification, intrinsic and acquired resistance to antifungal drugs, and its potential to easily contaminate the environment causing clonal outbreaks in healthcare facilities. These outbreaks are associated with high mortality rates particularly among older patients with multiple comorbidities under intensive care settings. The purpose of this review is to highlight strategies that are being adapted to prevent transmission of C. auris in healthcare settings. Recent Findings Colonized patients shed C. auris into their environment which contaminates surrounding equipment. It resists elimination even by robust decontamination procedures and is easily transmitted to new patients during close contact resulting in outbreaks. Efforts are being made to rapidly identify C. auris-infected/C. auris-colonized patients, to determine its susceptibility to antifungals, and to perform effective cleaning and decontamination of the environment and isolation of colonized patients to prevent further transmission. Summary Rapid and accurate identification of hospitalized patients infected/colonized with C. auris, rapid detection of its susceptibility patterns, and appropriate use of infection control measures can help to contain the spread of this highly pathogenic yeast in healthcare settings and prevent/control outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suhail Ahmad
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Microbiology, Kuwait University, PO Box: 24923, 13110 Safat, Kuwait
| | - Mohammad Asadzadeh
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Microbiology, Kuwait University, PO Box: 24923, 13110 Safat, Kuwait
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12
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Gómez-Gaviria M, Martínez-Álvarez JA, Chávez-Santiago JO, Mora-Montes HM. Candida haemulonii Complex and Candida auris: Biology, Virulence Factors, Immune Response, and Multidrug Resistance. Infect Drug Resist 2023; 16:1455-1470. [PMID: 36942024 PMCID: PMC10024503 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s402754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
There is worldwide concern about the constant increase in infections caused by Candida species that are multiresistant to antifungal drugs. The most common candidiasis is caused by Candida albicans, however, the species of the Candida haemulonii complex and Candida auris are emerging opportunistic pathogens, which isolation from clinical samples has significantly increased in the past years. The special interest in the study of these species lies in their ability to evade the action of antifungal drugs, such as amphotericin B, azoles, and echinocandins. In addition, the phenotypic changes of these species have given them the ability to easily adapt to environmental changes, including the host milieu and immunity. In this paper, a detailed review of the current literature on the C. haemulonii complex and C. auris is shown, analyzing aspects such as biology, immune response, putative virulence factors, infection, treatment, and the current strategies for diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Gómez-Gaviria
- Departamento de Biología, División de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Campus Guanajuato, Universidad de Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Gto, México
- Correspondence: Manuela Gómez-Gaviria; Héctor M Mora-Montes, Departamento de Biología, División de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Campus Guanajuato, Universidad de Guanajuato, Noria Alta s/n, Col. Noria Alta, Guanajuato, Gto, C. P. 36050, México, Tel +52 473-7320006 Ext. 8193, Fax +52 473-7320006 Ext. 8153, Email ;
| | - José A Martínez-Álvarez
- Departamento de Biología, División de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Campus Guanajuato, Universidad de Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Gto, México
| | - Joaquín O Chávez-Santiago
- Departamento de Biología, División de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Campus Guanajuato, Universidad de Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Gto, México
| | - Héctor M Mora-Montes
- Departamento de Biología, División de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Campus Guanajuato, Universidad de Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Gto, México
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13
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Thatchanamoorthy N, Rukumani Devi V, Chandramathi S, Tay ST. Candida auris: A Mini Review on Epidemiology in Healthcare Facilities in Asia. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:1126. [PMID: 36354893 PMCID: PMC9696804 DOI: 10.3390/jof8111126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 06/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Candida auris, a newly emerging healthcare-associated yeast pathogen from the Metschnikowiaceae family, was first described in the ear canal of an elderly Japanese patient in 2009. The yeast is one of the causative agents of candidemia, which has been linked with nosocomial outbreaks and high mortality rates in healthcare facilities worldwide. Since its first isolation, the occurrence of C. auris in six continents has becomes a grave concern for the healthcare professionals and scientific community. Recent reports showed the identification of five geographically distinct clades and high rates of antifungal resistance associated with C. auris. Till date, there are no effective treatment options, and standardized measures for prevention and control of C. auris infection in healthcare facilities. This leads to frequent therapeutic failures and complicates the eradication of C. auris infection in healthcare facilities. Thus, this review focuses on the recent understanding of the epidemiology, risk factors, diagnosis, transmission and prevention and control strategies of C. auris infection in healthcare facilities in Asia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nishanthinie Thatchanamoorthy
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Jalan Profesor Diraja Ungku Aziz, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia
| | - Velayuthan Rukumani Devi
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Malaya Medical Centre, Jalan Profesor Diraja Ungku Aziz, Kuala Lumpur 59100, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia
| | - Samudi Chandramathi
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Jalan Profesor Diraja Ungku Aziz, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia
| | - Sun Tee Tay
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Jalan Profesor Diraja Ungku Aziz, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia
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14
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The Menace of Candida auris Epidemic Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review. Diseases 2022; 10:diseases10030058. [PMID: 36135214 PMCID: PMC9497911 DOI: 10.3390/diseases10030058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent for the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, has sparked a medical emergency worldwide. With the rise in COVID-19 infections and an eventual increase in hospitalized critically ill patients, a trend of bacterial, fungal, and viral superinfection has been noted. One important agent of co-infection identified is Candida auris. Due to its multidrug-resistant nature and easy transmissibility, C. auris is difficult to manage in COVID-positive patients. Patients with comorbidities, immunosuppressive states, intubated and on ventilators are more likely to contract the fungal infection. Therefore, it is essential to the first screen, diagnose, and isolate patients with C. auris infection and manage and treat them while preventing the spread of the disease. Failure to recognize and prevent its spread may lead to an eventual epidemic or even a pandemic during the current COVID-pandemic, which the exhausted healthcare system can most definitely not handle. This systematic review investigates the prevalence of C. auris, its pathophysiology, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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15
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Desoubeaux G, Coste AT, Imbert C, Hennequin C. Overview about Candida auris: What's up 12 years after its first description? J Mycol Med 2022; 32:101248. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mycmed.2022.101248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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16
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Aldejohann AM, Wiese-Posselt M, Gastmeier P, Kurzai O. Expert recommendations for prevention and management of Candida auris transmission. Mycoses 2022; 65:590-598. [PMID: 35437832 DOI: 10.1111/myc.13445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Candida auris was first described as a yeast pathogen in 2009. Since then, the new species has emerged worldwide. In contrast to most other Candida spp., C. auris frequently exhibits multi-drug resistance and is readily transmitted in hospital settings. While most isolations so far are from colonized patients, C. auris does cause life-threatening invasive infections. During management of the first documented C. auris transmission in a German hospital, experts from the National Reference Centers for Invasive Fungal Infections (NRZMyk) and the National Reference Center for Surveillance of Nosocomial Infections screened available literature and integrated available knowledge on infection prevention and C. auris epidemiology and biology to enable optimal containment. Relevant recommendations developed during this process are summarized in this guidance document, intended to assist in management of C. auris transmission and potential outbreak situations. Rapid and effective measures to contain C. auris spread require a multidisciplinary approach that includes clinical specialists of the affected unit, nursing staff, hospital hygiene, diagnostic microbiology, cleaning staff, hospital management and experts in diagnostic mycology / fungal infections. Action should be initiated in a step-wise process and relevant interventions differ between management of singular C. auris colonized / infected patients and detection of potential C. auris transmission or nosocomial outbreaks. [word count 205].
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Miriam Wiese-Posselt
- Nationales Referenzzentrum für Surveillance von nosokomialen Infektionen, Institut für Hygiene und Umweltmedizin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
| | - Petra Gastmeier
- Nationales Referenzzentrum für Surveillance von nosokomialen Infektionen, Institut für Hygiene und Umweltmedizin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
| | - Oliver Kurzai
- Institut für Hygiene und Mikrobiologie, Universität Würzburg, Würzburg.,Nationales Referenzzentrum für Invasive Pilzinfektionen, Leibniz Institut für Naturstoff-Forschung und Infektionsbiologie - Hans-Knöll-Institut, Jena
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17
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Al-Obaid I, Asadzadeh M, Ahmad S, Alobaid K, Alfouzan W, Bafna R, Emara M, Joseph L. Fatal Breakthrough Candidemia in an Immunocompromised Patient in Kuwait Due to Candida auris Exhibiting Reduced Susceptibility to Echinocandins and Carrying a Novel Mutation in Hotspot-1 of FKS1. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8030267. [PMID: 35330269 PMCID: PMC8953900 DOI: 10.3390/jof8030267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida auris is an emerging yeast pathogen that has recently caused major outbreaks in healthcare facilities worldwide. Clinical C. auris isolates are usually resistant to fluconazole and readily develop resistance to echinocandins and amphotericin B (AMB) during treatment. We describe here an interesting case of C. auris infection in an immunocompromised patient who had previously received AMB and caspofungin treatment. Subsequently, C. auris was isolated from tracheal (tracheostomy) secretions and twice from urine and all three isolates were susceptible to AMB and micafungin. The patient received a combination therapy with AMB and caspofungin. Although the C. auris was cleared from the urine, the patient subsequently developed breakthrough candidemia and the bloodstream isolate exhibited a reduced susceptibility to micafungin and also showed the presence of a novel (S639T) mutation in hotspot-1 of FKS1. Interestingly, C. auris from the tracheal (tracheostomy) secretions recovered one and four days later exhibited a reduced susceptibility to micafungin and S639Y and S639T mutations in hotspot-1 of FKS1, respectively. Although the treatment was changed to voriconazole, the patient expired. Our case highlights a novel FKS1 mutation and the problems clinicians are facing to treat invasive C. auris infections due to inherent or developing resistance to multiple antifungal drugs and limited antifungal armamentarium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inaam Al-Obaid
- Department of Microbiology, Al-Sabah Hospital, Shuwaikh 70031, Kuwait; (I.A.-O.); (R.B.); (M.E.)
| | - Mohammad Asadzadeh
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Safat 13110, Kuwait; (M.A.); (W.A.); (L.J.)
| | - Suhail Ahmad
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Safat 13110, Kuwait; (M.A.); (W.A.); (L.J.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +00965-2463-6503
| | - Khaled Alobaid
- Department of Microbiology, Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital, Jabriya 46300, Kuwait;
| | - Wadha Alfouzan
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Safat 13110, Kuwait; (M.A.); (W.A.); (L.J.)
| | - Ritu Bafna
- Department of Microbiology, Al-Sabah Hospital, Shuwaikh 70031, Kuwait; (I.A.-O.); (R.B.); (M.E.)
| | - Maha Emara
- Department of Microbiology, Al-Sabah Hospital, Shuwaikh 70031, Kuwait; (I.A.-O.); (R.B.); (M.E.)
| | - Leena Joseph
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Safat 13110, Kuwait; (M.A.); (W.A.); (L.J.)
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18
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Mariita RM, Davis JH, Lottridge MM, Randive RV. Shining light on multi-drug resistant Candida auris: Ultraviolet-C disinfection, wavelength sensitivity, and prevention of biofilm formation of an emerging yeast pathogen. Microbiologyopen 2022; 11:e1261. [PMID: 35212481 PMCID: PMC8767514 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.1261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida auris is an emerging fungal superbug of worldwide interest. It is associated with high mortality rates and exhibits increased resistance to antifungals. Ultraviolet subtype C (UVC) light can be used to disinfect surfaces to mitigate its spread. The objectives of this study were (1) To investigate UVC disinfection performances and wavelength sensitivity of C. auris. (2) To evaluate the UVC dose required for the prevention of biofilm formation on stainless-steel, plastic (polystyrene), and poly-cotton fabric surfaces. C. auris was grown following standard procedures. The study utilized six different UVC LED arrays with wavelengths between 252 and 280 nm. Arrays were set at similar intensities, to obtain doses of 5-40 mJ cm-2 and similar irradiation time. Disinfection performance for each array was determined using log reduction value (LRV) and percentage reduction by comparing the controls against the irradiated treatments. Evaluation of the ability of 267 nm UVC LEDs to prevent C. auris biofilm formation was investigated using stainless-steel, plastic coupons, and poly-cotton fabric. Peak sensitivity to UVC disinfection was between 267 and 270 nm. With 20 mJ cm-2 , the study obtained ≥LRV3. On stainless-steel coupons, 30 mJ cm-2 was sufficient to prevent biofilm formation, while on plastic, this required 10 mJ cm-2 . A dose of 60 mJ cm-2 reduced biofilms on poly-cotton fabric significantly (R2 = 0.9750, p = 0.0002). The study may allow for the design and implementation of disinfection systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard M. Mariita
- Product Engineering DepartmentCrystal IS Inc., an Asahi Kasei CompanyGreen IslandNew YorkUSA
| | - James H. Davis
- Product Engineering DepartmentCrystal IS Inc., an Asahi Kasei CompanyGreen IslandNew YorkUSA
| | - Michelle M. Lottridge
- Product Engineering DepartmentCrystal IS Inc., an Asahi Kasei CompanyGreen IslandNew YorkUSA
| | - Rajul V. Randive
- Product Engineering DepartmentCrystal IS Inc., an Asahi Kasei CompanyGreen IslandNew YorkUSA
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19
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Asadzadeh M, Mokaddas E, Ahmad S, Abdullah AA, de Groot T, Meis JF, Shetty SA. Molecular characterisation of Candida auris isolates from immunocompromised patients in a tertiary-care hospital in Kuwait reveals a novel mutation in FKS1 conferring reduced susceptibility to echinocandins. Mycoses 2021; 65:331-343. [PMID: 34953089 DOI: 10.1111/myc.13419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Candida auris is an emerging, potentially multidrug-resistant pathogen that exhibits clade-specific resistance to fluconazole and also develops resistance to echinocandins and amphotericin B easily. This study analysed 49 C auris isolates for alterations in hotspot-1 and hotspot-2 of FKS1 for the detection of mutations conferring reduced susceptibility to echinocandins. METHODS C auris isolates (n = 49) obtained from 18 immunocompromised patients during June 2016-December 2018 were analysed. Antifungal susceptibility testing was performed by Etest and broth microdilution-based MICRONAUT-AM assay. Mutations in hotspot-1 and hotspot-2 regions of FKS1 were detected by PCR sequencing and fingerprinting of the isolates was done by short tandem repeat typing. RESULTS The patients had multiple comorbidities/risk factors for Candida spp. infection including cancer/leukaemia/lymphoma/myeloma (n = 16), arterial/central line (n = 17), urinary catheter (n = 17), mechanical ventilation (n = 14) and major surgery (n = 9) and received antifungal drugs as prophylaxis and/or empiric treatment. Seven patients developed C auris candidemia/breakthrough candidemia, nine patients had candiduria with/without candidemia and four patients developed surgical site/respiratory infection. Resistance to fluconazole and amphotericin B was detected in 44 and four isolates, respectively. Twelve C auris isolates from eight patients showed reduced susceptibility to echinocandins. Seven isolates contained hostspot-1 mutations and three isolates from a candidemia patient contained R1354H mutation in hotspot-2 of FKS1. Ten patients died, five were cured, two were lost to follow-up and treatment details for one patient were not available. CONCLUSIONS Our findings describe development of a novel mutation in FKS1 conferring reduced susceptibility to echinocandins in one patient during treatment and unfavourable clinical outcome for many C auris-infected patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Asadzadeh
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait
| | - Eiman Mokaddas
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait.,Microbiology Department, Ibn Sina Hospital, Shuwaikh, Kuwait
| | - Suhail Ahmad
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait
| | | | - Theun de Groot
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jacques F Meis
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Center of Expertise in Mycology, Radboud University Medical Center/Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Bioprocess Engineering and Biotechnology Graduate Program, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Shama A Shetty
- Microbiology Department, Ibn Sina Hospital, Shuwaikh, Kuwait
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20
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Rybak JM, Barker KS, Muñoz JF, Parker JE, Ahmad S, Mokaddas E, Abdullah A, Elhagracy RS, Kelly SL, Cuomo CA, Rogers PD. In vivo emergence of high-level resistance during treatment reveals the first identified mechanism of amphotericin B resistance in Candida auris. Clin Microbiol Infect 2021; 28:838-843. [PMID: 34915074 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2021.11.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Candida auris has emerged as a healthcare-associated and multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen of great clinical concern. While as many as 50% of C. auris clinical isolates are reported to be resistant to amphotericin B, to date, no mechanisms contributing to this resistance have been identified. Here we describe the clinical case in which high-level amphotericin B resistance was acquired in vivo during therapy and undertake molecular and genetic studies to identify and characterize the genetic determinant of resistance. METHODS Whole genome sequencing was performed on four C. auris isolates obtained from a single patient case. Cas9-mediated genetic manipulations were then used to generate mutant strains harboring mutations of interest, and these strains were subsequently subjected to amphotericin B susceptibility testing, and comprehensive sterol profiling. RESULTS A novel mutation in C. auris sterol-methyltransferase gene, ERG6, was found to be associated with amphotericin B resistance, and this mutation alone conferred a >32-fold increase in amphotericin B resistance. Comprehensive sterol profiling revealed an abrogation of ergosterol biosynthesis and a corresponding accumulation of cholesta-type sterols in isolates and strains harboring the clinically-derived ERG6 mutation. CONCLUSIONS Together these findings definitively demonstrate mutations in C. auris ERG6 as the first identified mechanism of clinical amphotericin B resistance in C. auris and represent a significant step forward in the understanding of antifungal resistance in this emerging public health threat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey M Rybak
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
| | - Katherine S Barker
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - José F Muñoz
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Josie E Parker
- Centre for Cytochrome P450 Biodiversity, Institute of Life Science, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea, UK
| | - Suhail Ahmad
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Jabriya, Kuwait
| | - Eiman Mokaddas
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Jabriya, Kuwait; Department of Microbiology, Ibn Sina Hospital, Shuwaikh, Kuwait
| | - Aneesa Abdullah
- Department of Microbiology, Ibn Sina Hospital, Shuwaikh, Kuwait
| | - Rehab S Elhagracy
- Department of Haematology, Kuwait Cancer Control Center, Shuwaikh, Kuwait
| | - Steve L Kelly
- Centre for Cytochrome P450 Biodiversity, Institute of Life Science, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea, UK
| | | | - P David Rogers
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
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21
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Borgio JF, Rasdan AS, Sonbol B, Alhamid G, Almandil NB, AbdulAzeez S. Emerging Status of Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria and Fungi in the Arabian Peninsula. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10111144. [PMID: 34827138 PMCID: PMC8614875 DOI: 10.3390/biology10111144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary The incidence and developing status of multidrug-resistant bacteria and fungi, as well as their related mortality, is reviewed by a systematic published literature search from nine countries in the Arabian Peninsula. In order to analyse the emerging status and mortality, a total of 382 research articles were selected from a comprehensive screening of 1705 papers. More than 850 deaths reported since 2010 in the Arabian Peninsula due to the infection of multidrug-resistant bacteria and fungi. Multidrug-resistant bacteria Acinetobacter baumannii, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Staphylococcus aureus, and fungi Candida auris are the most prevalent and causing high deaths. To control these infections and associated deaths in the Arabian Peninsula, continuous preventive measures, accurate methods for early diagnosis of infection, active surveillance, constant monitoring, developing vaccines, eradicating multidrug resistance modulators, and data sharing among countries are required. Abstract We aimed to identify the prevalence and emerging status of multidrug-resistant bacteria and fungi and their associated mortality in nine countries in the Arabian Peninsula. Original research articles and case studies regarding multidrug-resistant bacteria and fungi in the Arabian Peninsula, published during the last 10 years, were retrieved from PubMed and Scopus. A total of 382 studies were included as per the inclusion and exclusion criteria, as well as the PRISMA guidelines, from a thorough screening of 1705 articles, in order to analyse the emerging status and mortality. The emerging nature of >120 multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria and fungi in the Arabian Peninsula is a serious concern that requires continuous monitoring and immediate preventive measures. More than 50% (n = 453) of multidrug-resistant, microbe-associated mortality (n = 871) in the Arabian Peninsula was due to MDR Acinetobacter baumannii, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Staphylococcus aureus infection. Overall, a 16.51% mortality was reported among MDR-infected patients in the Arabian Peninsula from the 382 articles of this registered systematic review. MDR A. baumannii (5600 isolates) prevailed in all the nine countries of the Arabian Peninsula and was one of the fastest emerging MDR bacteria with the highest mortality (n = 210). A total of 13,087 Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates were reported in the region. Candida auris (580 strains) is the most prevalent among the MDR fungal pathogen in the Arabian Peninsula, having caused 54 mortalities. Active surveillance, constant monitoring, the development of a candidate vaccine, an early diagnosis of MDR infection, the elimination of multidrug resistance modulators and uninterrupted preventive measures with enhanced data sharing are mandatory to control MDR infection and associated diseases of the Arabian Peninsula. Accurate and rapid detection methods are needed to differentiate MDR strain from other strains of the species. This review summarises the logical relation, prevalence, emerging status and associated mortality of MDR microbes in the Arabian Peninsula.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Francis Borgio
- Department of Epidemic Diseases Research, Institute for Research and Medical Consultations (IRMC), Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia; (A.S.R.); (B.S.); (G.A.)
- Department of Genetic Research, Institute for Research and Medical Consultations (IRMC), Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia;
- Correspondence: or ; Tel.: +966-013-3330864
| | - Alia Saeed Rasdan
- Department of Epidemic Diseases Research, Institute for Research and Medical Consultations (IRMC), Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia; (A.S.R.); (B.S.); (G.A.)
| | - Bayan Sonbol
- Department of Epidemic Diseases Research, Institute for Research and Medical Consultations (IRMC), Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia; (A.S.R.); (B.S.); (G.A.)
| | - Galyah Alhamid
- Department of Epidemic Diseases Research, Institute for Research and Medical Consultations (IRMC), Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia; (A.S.R.); (B.S.); (G.A.)
| | - Noor B. Almandil
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy Research, Institute for Research and Medical Consultations (IRMC), Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Sayed AbdulAzeez
- Department of Genetic Research, Institute for Research and Medical Consultations (IRMC), Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia;
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22
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Epidemiology of Candidemia in Kuwait: A Nationwide, Population-Based Study. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7080673. [PMID: 34436212 PMCID: PMC8399751 DOI: 10.3390/jof7080673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The Candida species cause a majority of invasive fungal infections. In this article, we describe the nationwide epidemiology of candidemia in Kuwait in 2018. Yeast bloodstream isolates submitted from all major hospitals and identified by phenotypic MALDI-TOF MS and/or by molecular methods were studied. Susceptibility testing was performed by Etest. Out of 313 bloodstream yeasts, 239 Candida spp. isolates (excluding duplicate isolates) were obtained during 234 candidemic episodes among 223 patients. Mixed-species candidemia and re-infection occurred in 5 and 11 patients, respectively. C. albicans (n = 74), C. parapsilosis (n = 54), C. tropicalis (n = 35), C. auris (n = 33), C. glabrata (n = 32), other Candida spp. (n = 11), and other yeasts (n = 9) caused fungemia. Nearly 50% of patients were in intensive care units. Candida spp. isolates (except C. glabrata) were susceptible to caspofungin and 27% of C. auris were amphotericin B-resistant. Resistance to fluconazole was 100% in C. auris, 17% in C. parapsilosis, 12% in C. glabrata, and 1% in C. albicans. Mortality was 47% for other Candida/yeast infections. Nationwide candidemia incidence in 2018 was 5.29 cases/100,000 inhabitants. Changes in species spectrum, increasing fluconazole resistance in C. parapsilosis, and the emergence of C. auris as a major pathogen in Kuwait are noteworthy findings. The data could be of help in informing decisions regarding planning, in the allocation of resources, and in antimicrobial stewardship.
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Nobrega de Almeida J, Brandão IB, Francisco EC, de Almeida SLR, de Oliveira Dias P, Pereira FM, Santos Ferreira F, de Andrade TS, de Miranda Costa MM, de Souza Jordão RT, Meis JF, Colombo AL. Axillary Digital Thermometers uplifted a multidrug-susceptible Candida auris outbreak among COVID-19 patients in Brazil. Mycoses 2021; 64:1062-1072. [PMID: 34009677 PMCID: PMC8242760 DOI: 10.1111/myc.13320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Objectives To describe the first outbreak of Candidaauris in Brazil, including epidemiological, clinical and microbiological data. Methods After the first Candidaauris‐colonised patient was diagnosed in a COVID‐19 ICU at a hospital in Salvador, Brazil, a multidisciplinary team conducted a local C. auris prevalence investigation. Screening cultures for C. auris were collected from patients, healthcare workers and inanimate surfaces. Risk factors for C. auris colonisation were evaluated, and the fungemia episodes that occurred after the investigation were also analysed and described. Antifungal susceptibility of the C. auris isolates was determined, and they were genotyped with microsatellite analysis. Results Among body swabs collected from 47 patients, eight (n = 8/47, 17%) samples from the axillae were positive for C. auris. Among samples collected from inanimate surfaces, digital thermometers had the highest rate of positive cultures (n = 8/47, 17%). Antifungal susceptibility testing showed MICs of 0.5 to 1 mg/L for AMB, 0.03 to 0.06 mg/L for voriconazole, 2 to 4 mg/L for fluconazole and 0.03 to 0.06 mg/L for anidulafungin. Microsatellite analysis revealed that all C. auris isolates belong to the South Asian clade (Clade I) and had different genotypes. In multivariate analysis, having a colonised digital thermometer was the only independent risk factor associated with C. auris colonisation. Three episodes of C. auris fungemia occurred after the investigation, with 30‐day attributable mortality of 33.3%. Conclusions Emergence of C. auris in Salvador, Brazil, may be related to local C. auris clade I closely related genotypes. Contaminated axillary monitoring thermometers may facilitate the dissemination of C. auris reinforcing the concept that these reusable devices should be carefully cleaned with an effective disinfectant or replaced by other temperature monitoring methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Nobrega de Almeida
- Disciplina de Infectologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Central Laboratory Division, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Igor B Brandão
- Comissão de Controle de Infecção Hospitalar, Hospital de Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Elaine C Francisco
- Disciplina de Infectologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | - Thaisse Souza de Andrade
- Superintendência de Vigilância e Proteção da Saúde, Secretaria de Saúde do Estado da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | | | | | - Jacques F Meis
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, ECMM Center of Excellence for Medical Mycology, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Center of Expertise in Mycology, Radboud University Medical Center/Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Arnaldo L Colombo
- Disciplina de Infectologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Černáková L, Roudbary M, Brás S, Tafaj S, Rodrigues CF. Candida auris: A Quick Review on Identification, Current Treatments, and Challenges. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:4470. [PMID: 33922907 PMCID: PMC8123192 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Candida auris is a novel and major fungal pathogen that has triggered several outbreaks in the last decade. The few drugs available to treat fungal diseases, the fact that this yeast has a high rate of multidrug resistance and the occurrence of misleading identifications, and the ability of forming biofilms (naturally more resistant to drugs) has made treatments of C. auris infections highly difficult. This review intends to quickly illustrate the main issues in C. auris identification, available treatments and the associated mechanisms of resistance, and the novel and alternative treatment and drugs (natural and synthetic) that have been recently reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Černáková
- Department of Microbiology and Virology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Ilkovičova 6, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia;
| | - Maryam Roudbary
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614535, Iran;
| | - Susana Brás
- Centre of Biological Engineering, LIBRO—‘Laboratório de Investigação em Biofilmes Rosário Oliveira’, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal;
| | - Silva Tafaj
- Microbiology Department, University Hospital “Shefqet Ndroqi”, 1044 Tirana, Albania;
| | - Célia F. Rodrigues
- LEPABE—Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
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Ahmad S, Alfouzan W. Candida auris: Epidemiology, Diagnosis, Pathogenesis, Antifungal Susceptibility, and Infection Control Measures to Combat the Spread of Infections in Healthcare Facilities. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9040807. [PMID: 33920482 PMCID: PMC8069182 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9040807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Revised: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida auris, a recently recognized, often multidrug-resistant yeast, has become a significant fungal pathogen due to its ability to cause invasive infections and outbreaks in healthcare facilities which have been difficult to control and treat. The extraordinary abilities of C. auris to easily contaminate the environment around colonized patients and persist for long periods have recently resulted in major outbreaks in many countries. C. auris resists elimination by robust cleaning and other decontamination procedures, likely due to the formation of 'dry' biofilms. Susceptible hospitalized patients, particularly those with multiple comorbidities in intensive care settings, acquire C. auris rather easily from close contact with C. auris-infected patients, their environment, or the equipment used on colonized patients, often with fatal consequences. This review highlights the lessons learned from recent studies on the epidemiology, diagnosis, pathogenesis, susceptibility, and molecular basis of resistance to antifungal drugs and infection control measures to combat the spread of C. auris infections in healthcare facilities. Particular emphasis is given to interventions aiming to prevent new infections in healthcare facilities, including the screening of susceptible patients for colonization; the cleaning and decontamination of the environment, equipment, and colonized patients; and successful approaches to identify and treat infected patients, particularly during outbreaks.
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Dong J, Liang G, Zheng H, Kan S, Song N, Zhang M, Liu W. In Vitro activity of ravuconazole against Candida auris and vaginal candida isolates. Mycoses 2021; 64:651-655. [PMID: 33609301 DOI: 10.1111/myc.13260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Revised: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ravuconazole is an extended-spectrum triazole agent that is efficient in vitro against Candida spp. and has been approved to work as an oral formulae for onychomycosis in Japan in 2018. However, nobody had determined the MIC of ravuconazole against the Candida auris, which is known as an emerging multidrug-resistant yeast. Meanwhile, rare is known of the in vitro activity of ravuconazole against vaginal Candida isolates. OBJECTIVES To investigate the activity of ravuconazole against C. auris and vaginal Candida isolates of China and assess the feasibility of ravuconazole in the treatment of candidiasis caused by C. auris and other Candida spp. METHODS We determined the in vitro activity of ravuconazole and 9 comparators against 15 C. auris isolates and determined the MIC of ravuconazole on 525 vaginal Candida isolates (Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, Candida glabrata and Candida parapsilosis) from 9 provinces of China by Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) methodology. RESULTS The MICs of fluconazole and amphotericin B on C. auris were much higher than second-generation azoles and echinocandins. Ravuconazole was active against all the C. auris isolates and as effective as isavuconazole, posaconazole and echinocandins while showed a better antifungal activity than itraconazole, voriconazole to C. auris. For vaginal Candida isolates, the proportion of ravuconazole-resistant isolates is 0.19% (1/525). CONCLUSIONS Ravuconazole was in good active against C. auris and vaginal Candida isolates, which suggested ravuconazole could be used in the treatment of drug-resistant candidiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiacheng Dong
- Department of Medical Mycology, Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Nanjing, China
| | - Guanzhao Liang
- Department of Medical Mycology, Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Nanjing, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Skin Diseases and STIs, Nanjing, China
| | - Hailin Zheng
- Department of Medical Mycology, Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Nanjing, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Skin Diseases and STIs, Nanjing, China
| | - Siyue Kan
- Department of Medical Mycology, Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Nanjing, China
| | - Nana Song
- Department of Medical Mycology, Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Nanjing, China
| | - Meijie Zhang
- Department of Medical Mycology, Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Nanjing, China
| | - Weida Liu
- Department of Medical Mycology, Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Nanjing, China.,Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Skin Diseases and STIs, Nanjing, China
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Allaw F, Kara Zahreddine N, Ibrahim A, Tannous J, Taleb H, Bizri AR, Dbaibo G, Kanj SS. First Candida auris Outbreak during a COVID-19 Pandemic in a Tertiary-Care Center in Lebanon. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10020157. [PMID: 33546137 PMCID: PMC7913166 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10020157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida auris is an emerging fungal pathogen considered as a global health threat. Recently there has been growing concern regarding drug resistance, difficulty in identification, as well as problems with eradication. Although outbreaks have been reported throughout the globe including from several Arab countries, there were no previous reports from Lebanon. We herein report the first cases of C. auris infection from the American University of Beirut Medical Center, a tertiary care center in Lebanon describing the clinical features of the affected patients in addition to the infection control investigation and applied interventions to control the outbreak. Fourteen patients with C. auris infection/colonization identified using MALDI-TOF and VITEK 2- Compact system were reported over a period of 13 weeks. Patients were admitted to four separate critical care units. All of them came through the emergency room and had comorbid conditions. Half of the patients were infected with COVID-19 prior to isolation of the C. auris. C. auris was isolated from blood (two isolates), urine (three isolates), respiratory tract (10 isolates) and skin (one isolate). All the patients had received broad spectrum antibiotics prior to isolation of C. auris. Six patients received antifungal treatment, while the remaining eight patients were considered colonized. Environmental cultures were taken from all four units and failed to isolate the organism from any cultured surfaces. A series of interventions were initiated by the Infection Prevention and Control team to contain the outbreak. Rapid detection and reporting of cases are essential to prevent further hospital transmission. A national standardized infection control registry needs to be established to identify widespread colonization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatima Allaw
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Internal Medicine Department, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon; (F.A.); (H.T.); (A.R.B.)
| | - Nada Kara Zahreddine
- Infection Control and Prevention Program, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon; (N.K.Z.); (A.I.); (J.T.)
| | - Ahmad Ibrahim
- Infection Control and Prevention Program, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon; (N.K.Z.); (A.I.); (J.T.)
| | - Joseph Tannous
- Infection Control and Prevention Program, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon; (N.K.Z.); (A.I.); (J.T.)
| | - Hussein Taleb
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Internal Medicine Department, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon; (F.A.); (H.T.); (A.R.B.)
| | - Abdul Rahman Bizri
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Internal Medicine Department, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon; (F.A.); (H.T.); (A.R.B.)
| | - Ghassan Dbaibo
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Pediatric Department, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon;
| | - Souha S. Kanj
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Internal Medicine Department, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon; (F.A.); (H.T.); (A.R.B.)
- Correspondence:
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White PL, Price JS, Cordey A, Backx M. Molecular Diagnosis of Yeast Infections. CURRENT FUNGAL INFECTION REPORTS 2021; 15:67-80. [PMID: 34178207 PMCID: PMC8212580 DOI: 10.1007/s12281-021-00421-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The use of molecular tests to aid the diagnosis of invasive yeast infection, in particular invasive candidosis, has been described for over two decades, yet widespread application is limited, and diagnosis remains heavily dependent on classical microbiology. This article will review developments from the past decade in attempt to build on existing knowledge. It will highlight clinical performance and limitations while reviewing developments on recognized procedures; it will also provide insight into novel approaches incorporated in response to clinical demand (e.g. C. auris and antifungal resistance) or technological advances (e.g. next-generation sequencing). RECENT FINDINGS Limited methodological standardization and, until recently, unavailability of commercial options have hindered the integration of molecular diagnostics for yeasts. The development of certain, novel commercial methods has received considerable evaluation allowing a greater understanding of individual assay performance, but widespread multicentre evaluation of most commercial kits is lacking. The detection of emerging pathogens (e.g. C. auris) has been enhanced by the development of molecular tests. Molecular methods are providing a better understanding of the mycobiome, mechanisms of resistance and epidemiology/phylogeny. SUMMARY Despite over two decades of use, the incorporation of molecular methods to enhance the diagnosis of yeast infections remains limited to certain specialist centres. While the development of commercial tests will provide stimulus for broader application, further validation and reduced costs are required. Over the same period of time, Aspergillus PCR has become more widely accepted driven by international efforts to standardize methodology; it is critical that yeast PCR follows suit. Next-generation sequencing will provide significant information on the mycobiome, antifungal resistance mechanism and even broad-range detection directly from the specimen, which may be critical for the molecular detection of yeasts other than Candida species, which is currently limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- P. Lewis White
- grid.241103.50000 0001 0169 7725Mycology Reference Laboratory, Public Health Wales, Microbiology Cardiff, UHW, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XW UK
| | - Jessica S. Price
- grid.241103.50000 0001 0169 7725Mycology Reference Laboratory, Public Health Wales, Microbiology Cardiff, UHW, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XW UK
| | - Alan Cordey
- grid.241103.50000 0001 0169 7725Mycology Reference Laboratory, Public Health Wales, Microbiology Cardiff, UHW, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XW UK
| | - Matthijs Backx
- grid.241103.50000 0001 0169 7725Mycology Reference Laboratory, Public Health Wales, Microbiology Cardiff, UHW, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XW UK
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Rosam K, Monk BC, Lackner M. Sterol 14α-Demethylase Ligand-Binding Pocket-Mediated Acquired and Intrinsic Azole Resistance in Fungal Pathogens. J Fungi (Basel) 2020; 7:jof7010001. [PMID: 33374996 PMCID: PMC7822023 DOI: 10.3390/jof7010001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Revised: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The fungal cytochrome P450 enzyme sterol 14α-demethylase (SDM) is a key enzyme in the ergosterol biosynthesis pathway. The binding of azoles to the active site of SDM results in a depletion of ergosterol, the accumulation of toxic intermediates and growth inhibition. The prevalence of azole-resistant strains and fungi is increasing in both agriculture and medicine. This can lead to major yield loss during food production and therapeutic failure in medical settings. Diverse mechanisms are responsible for azole resistance. They include amino acid (AA) substitutions in SDM and overexpression of SDM and/or efflux pumps. This review considers AA affecting the ligand-binding pocket of SDMs with a primary focus on substitutions that affect interactions between the active site and the substrate and inhibitory ligands. Some of these interactions are particularly important for the binding of short-tailed azoles (e.g., voriconazole). We highlight the occurrence throughout the fungal kingdom of some key AA substitutions. Elucidation of the role of these AAs and their substitutions may assist drug design in overcoming some common forms of innate and acquired azole resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Rosam
- Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Schöpfstrasse 41, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria;
| | - Brian C. Monk
- Sir John Walsh Research Institute and Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago, PO Box 56, 9054 Dunedin, New Zealand;
| | - Michaela Lackner
- Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Schöpfstrasse 41, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +43-512-003-70725
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Griffith N, Danziger L. Candida auris Urinary Tract Infections and Possible Treatment. Antibiotics (Basel) 2020; 9:antibiotics9120898. [PMID: 33322761 PMCID: PMC7764735 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics9120898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Revised: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida auris is a globally emerging pathogen that has been identified in urinary tract infections (UTIs) worldwide. The novel pathogen is characterized by common misidentification, difficult eradication, and multidrug resistance. To date, there is a paucity of data to guide the optimal management of C. auris UTIs. This review provides an overview of C. auris as an etiologic agent of UTIs, a comprehensive review of published data on C. auris UTIs, and a proposed treatment algorithm based on patient clinical status, the presence or absence of clinical infection, comorbidities, infection, and therapy history. Echinocandin and liposomal amphotericin B are recommended as first-line agents for most patients with C. auris isolated in the urine, with a focus on infection control measures and appropriate follow-up criteria. A variety of combination therapies, flucytosine, and amphotericin B bladder irrigations are offered as potential alternatives in the event of infection persistence or recurrence. The treatment approach centers on the aggressive treatment of C. auris in most patients, with the goal of preventing subsequent invasive spread, multi-drug resistance, and ultimate mortality. Published literature on C. auris urinary isolation and treatment is imperative for the future evolution of evidence-based treatment recommendations for this unique pathogen of concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Griffith
- Department of Pharmacy Practice (m/c 833), University of Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy, Chicago, IL 60612, USA;
| | - Larry Danziger
- Department of Pharmacy Practice (m/c 833), University of Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy, Chicago, IL 60612, USA;
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, UIC College of Pharmacy, Suite 164 833 S. Wood Street, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
- Correspondence:
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Alfouzan W, Ahmad S, Dhar R, Asadzadeh M, Almerdasi N, Abdo NM, Joseph L, de Groot T, Alali WQ, Khan Z, Meis JF, Al-Rashidi MR. Molecular Epidemiology of Candida Auris Outbreak in a Major Secondary-Care Hospital in Kuwait. J Fungi (Basel) 2020; 6:E307. [PMID: 33233388 PMCID: PMC7712429 DOI: 10.3390/jof6040307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The emerging, often multidrug-resistant Candida auris is increasingly being associated with outbreaks in healthcare facilities. Here we describe the molecular epidemiology of a C. auris outbreak during 18 months, which started in 2018 in the high dependency unit (HDU) of a secondary-care hospital in Kuwait. Demographic and clinical data for candidemia and colonized patients were prospectively recorded. Clinical and environmental isolates were subjected to phenotypic and molecular identification; antifungal susceptibility testing by broth microdilution method; PCR-sequencing of ERG11 and FKS1 for resistance mechanisms to triazoles and echinocandins, respectively; and molecular fingerprinting by short tandem repeat (STR) analyses. Seventy-one (17 candidemic and 54 colonized) patients including 26 with candiduria and seven environmental samples yielded C. auris. All isolates were identified as C. auris by Vitek2, MALDI-TOF MS, PCR amplification and/or PCR-sequencing of rDNA. Twelve candidemia and 26 colonized patients were admitted or exposed to HDU. Following outbreak recognition, an intensive screening program was instituted for new patients. Despite treatment of all candidemia and 36 colonized patients, 9 of 17 candidemia and 27 of 54 colonized patients died with an overall crude mortality rate of ~50%. Nearly all isolates were resistant to fluconazole and contained the Y132F mutation in ERG11 except one patient's isolates, which were also distinct by STR typing. Only urine isolates from two patients developed echinocandin resistance with concomitant FKS1 mutations. The transmission of C. auris in this outbreak was linked to infected/colonized patients and the hospital environment. However, despite continuous surveillance and enforcement of infection control measures, sporadic new cases continued to occur, challenging the containment efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wadha Alfouzan
- Microbiology Unit, Department of Laboratories, Farwaniya Hospital, P.O. Box 13373, Farwaniya 81004, Kuwait; (R.D.); (N.A.)
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, P.O. Box 24923, Safat 13110, Kuwait; (S.A.); (M.A.); (L.J.); (Z.K.)
| | - Suhail Ahmad
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, P.O. Box 24923, Safat 13110, Kuwait; (S.A.); (M.A.); (L.J.); (Z.K.)
| | - Rita Dhar
- Microbiology Unit, Department of Laboratories, Farwaniya Hospital, P.O. Box 13373, Farwaniya 81004, Kuwait; (R.D.); (N.A.)
| | - Mohammad Asadzadeh
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, P.O. Box 24923, Safat 13110, Kuwait; (S.A.); (M.A.); (L.J.); (Z.K.)
| | - Noura Almerdasi
- Microbiology Unit, Department of Laboratories, Farwaniya Hospital, P.O. Box 13373, Farwaniya 81004, Kuwait; (R.D.); (N.A.)
| | - Naglaa M. Abdo
- Department of Infection Control, Farwaniya Hospital, P.O. Box 13373, Farwaniya 81004, Kuwait;
- Department of Community, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt
| | - Leena Joseph
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, P.O. Box 24923, Safat 13110, Kuwait; (S.A.); (M.A.); (L.J.); (Z.K.)
| | - Theun de Groot
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, 6532 SZ Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (T.d.G.); (J.F.M.)
| | - Walid Q. Alali
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Public Health, Kuwait University, P.O. Box 24923, Safat 13110, Kuwait;
| | - Ziauddin Khan
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, P.O. Box 24923, Safat 13110, Kuwait; (S.A.); (M.A.); (L.J.); (Z.K.)
| | - Jacques F. Meis
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, 6532 SZ Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (T.d.G.); (J.F.M.)
- Center of Expertise in Mycology, Radboud University Medical Center/Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, 6532 SZ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Bioprocess Engineering and Biotechnology Graduate Program, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba 80060-000, Brazil
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Alfouzan W, Al-Wathiqi F, Altawalah H, Asadzadeh M, Khan Z, Denning DW. Human Fungal Infections in Kuwait-Burden and Diagnostic Gaps. J Fungi (Basel) 2020; 6:jof6040306. [PMID: 33233367 PMCID: PMC7711545 DOI: 10.3390/jof6040306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungal infections are an increasingly important public health issue, yet accurate statistics on fungal burden worldwide and in Kuwait are scarce. Here we estimate the incidence and prevalence of fungal infections in Kuwait. Population statistics from 2018 collected by the Public Authority for Civil Information were used, as well as data from the Ministry of Health. A literature search for Kuwait data on mycotic diseases and population at risk (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, HIV infection/AIDS, cancer, and transplant patients) was conducted. The population in 2018 was estimated at 4,226,920 million people: 1,303,246 million Kuwaitis and 2,923,674 million expatriates. We determined the annual burden of serious fungal infections number (per 100,000) from high to low based on earlier reported fungal rates for populations at risk: recurrent Candida vaginitis 54,842 (2595); severe asthma with fungal sensitisation 10,411 (246); allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, 7887 (187); chronic pulmonary aspergillosis 995 (21.3); invasive aspergillosis 704 (16.7); fungal keratitis 654 (15.5); candidaemia 288 (6.8); Candida peritonitis 63 (3.5) and oesophageal candidiasis in HIV 33 (0.8). Besides identifying rising new risk groups and expanding reports on antifungal resistance, surveillance programs and further epidemiological studies are needed to achieve more precise assessments of fungal disease epidemiology and correlated morbidity and mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wadha Alfouzan
- Microbiology Unit, Department of Laboratories, Farwaniya Hospital, P. O. Box 13373, Farwaniya 81004, Kuwait;
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, P. O. Box 24923, Safat 13110, Kuwait; (H.A.); (M.A.); (Z.K.)
| | - Faten Al-Wathiqi
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Kuwait University, P. O. Box. 31470, Sulaibikhat 90805, Kuwait
- Correspondence:
| | - Haya Altawalah
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, P. O. Box 24923, Safat 13110, Kuwait; (H.A.); (M.A.); (Z.K.)
- Virology Unit, Department of Laboratories, Yacoub Behbehani Center, Sabah Medical Area, P.O. Box 4078, Shuwaikh 13001, Kuwait
| | - Mohammad Asadzadeh
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, P. O. Box 24923, Safat 13110, Kuwait; (H.A.); (M.A.); (Z.K.)
| | - Ziauddin Khan
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, P. O. Box 24923, Safat 13110, Kuwait; (H.A.); (M.A.); (Z.K.)
| | - David W. Denning
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, The University of Manchester and the Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester M13 9PL, UK;
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Ahmad S, Khan Z, Al-Sweih N, Alfouzan W, Joseph L, Asadzadeh M. Candida kefyr in Kuwait: Prevalence, antifungal drug susceptibility and genotypic heterogeneity. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0240426. [PMID: 33108361 PMCID: PMC7591085 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Candida kefyr causes invasive candidiasis in immunocompromised patients, particularly among those with oncohematological diseases. This study determined the prevalence of C. kefyr among yeast isolates collected during 2011–2018 in Kuwait. Antifungal susceptibility testing (AST) and genotypic heterogeneity among C. kefyr was also studied. Methods Clinical C. kefyr isolates recovered from bloodstream and other specimens during 2011 to 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. All C. kefyr isolates were identified by CHROMagar Candida, Vitek2 and PCR amplification of rDNA. AST was performed by Etest. Molecular basis of resistance to fluconazole and echinocandins was studied by PCR-sequencing of ERG11 and FKS1, respectively. Genotypic heterogeneity was determined with microsatellite-/minisatellite-based primers and for 27 selected isolates by PCR-sequencing of IGS1 region of rDNA. Results Among 8257 yeast strains, 69 C. kefyr (including four bloodstream) isolates were detected by phenotypic and molecular methods. Isolation from urine and respiratory samples from female and male patients was significantly different (P = 0.001). Four isolates showed reduced susceptibility to amphotericin B and one isolate to all (amphotericin B, fluconazole, voriconazole and caspofungin/micafungin) antifungals tested. Fluconazole-resistant isolate contained only synonymous mutations in ERG11. Echinocandin-resistant isolate contained wild-type hotspot-1 and hotspot-2 of FKS1. Fingerprinting with microsatellite-/minisatellite-based primers identified only three types. IGS1 sequencing identified seven haplotypes among 27 selected isolates. Conclusions The overall prevalence of C. kefyr among clinical yeast isolates and among candidemia cases was recorded as 0.83% and 0.32%, respectively. The frequency of isolation of C. kefyr from bloodstream and other invasive samples was stable during the study period. The C. kefyr isolates grown from invasive (bloodstream, bronchoalveolar lavage, abdominal drain fluid, peritonial fluid and gastric fluid) samples and amphotericin B-resistant isolates were genotypically heterogeneous strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suhail Ahmad
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Jabriya, Kuwait
- * E-mail: ,
| | - Ziauddin Khan
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Jabriya, Kuwait
| | - Noura Al-Sweih
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Jabriya, Kuwait
| | - Wadha Alfouzan
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Jabriya, Kuwait
| | - Leena Joseph
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Jabriya, Kuwait
| | - Mohammad Asadzadeh
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Jabriya, Kuwait
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Mohsin J, Weerakoon S, Ahmed S, Puts Y, Al Balushi Z, Meis JF, Al-Hatmi AM. A Cluster of Candida auris Blood Stream Infections in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Oman from 2016 to 2019. Antibiotics (Basel) 2020; 9:antibiotics9100638. [PMID: 32987692 PMCID: PMC7598619 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics9100638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2020] [Revised: 09/13/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Candida auris has been reported as emerging yeast pathogen that can cause invasive bloodstream infections in healthcare settings. It is associated with high mortality rates and resistance to multiple classes of antifungal drugs and is difficult to identify with standard laboratory methods. (2) Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of epidemiological, clinical, and microbiological records for 23 C. auris fungemia cases at the Royal Hospital, a tertiary care facility in Oman, between 2016 and 2018. Demographic data, risk factors associated with mortality, microbiology investigation and treatment regimens are described. Yeasts were identified by MALDI-TOF. (3) Results: We identified 23 patients with C. auris fungemia. All positive samples from patients were confirmed as C. auris using MALDI-TOF, and ITS-rDNA sequencing. Microsatellite genotyping showed that the Omani isolates belong to the South Asian clade I. The majority of patients had multiple underlying illnesses and other risk factors that have been associated with fungemia. All isolates were non-susceptible to fluconazole. Isolates from all patients were sensitive to echinocandins and these were used as first line therapy. (4) Conclusions: Candida auris affects adults and children with a variety of risk factors including central venous catheters and overuse of antibiotics. Infections occur in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent individuals. Mortality was high in this series, and the organism can be transmitted in healthcare settings. Programs for raising awareness in Oman hospitals are warranted. Caspofungin remains 1st line therapy as MICs are still low despite its wide use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jalila Mohsin
- Department of Microbiology, Royal Hospital, Ministry of Health, 111 Muscat, Oman; (J.M.); (S.W.); (Z.A.B.)
| | - Sanjeewani Weerakoon
- Department of Microbiology, Royal Hospital, Ministry of Health, 111 Muscat, Oman; (J.M.); (S.W.); (Z.A.B.)
| | - Sarah Ahmed
- Foundation Atlas of Clinical Fungi, 1214 GP Hilversum, The Netherlands;
- Centre of Expertise in Mycology Radboud University Medical Centre/Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, 6532 SZ Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
| | - Ynze Puts
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, 6532 SZ Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
| | - Zainab Al Balushi
- Department of Microbiology, Royal Hospital, Ministry of Health, 111 Muscat, Oman; (J.M.); (S.W.); (Z.A.B.)
| | - Jacques F. Meis
- Centre of Expertise in Mycology Radboud University Medical Centre/Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, 6532 SZ Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, 6532 SZ Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
- Bioprocess Engineering and Biotechnology Graduate Program, Federal University of Paraná, 80010 Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Abdullah M.S. Al-Hatmi
- Foundation Atlas of Clinical Fungi, 1214 GP Hilversum, The Netherlands;
- Centre of Expertise in Mycology Radboud University Medical Centre/Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, 6532 SZ Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
- Ministry of Health, Directorate General of Health Services, 514 Ibri, Oman
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +968-2569-1915
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Echinocandins as Biotechnological Tools for Treating Candida auris Infections. J Fungi (Basel) 2020; 6:jof6030185. [PMID: 32971857 PMCID: PMC7558506 DOI: 10.3390/jof6030185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 09/06/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida auris has been reported in the past few years as an invasive fungal pathogen of high interest. Its recent emergence in healthcare-associated infections triggered the efforts of researchers worldwide, seeking additional alternatives to the use of traditional antifungals such as azoles. Lipopeptides, specially the echinocandins, have been reported as an effective approach to control pathogenic fungi. However, despite its efficiency against C. auris, some isolates presented echinocandin resistance. Thus, therapies focused on echinocandins’ synergism with other antifungal drugs were widely explored, representing a novel possibility for the treatment of C. auris infections.
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Ibrexafungerp: A Novel Oral Triterpenoid Antifungal in Development for the Treatment of Candida auris Infections. Antibiotics (Basel) 2020; 9:antibiotics9090539. [PMID: 32854252 PMCID: PMC7559578 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics9090539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida auris is an emerging multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen reported worldwide. Infections due to C. auris are usually nosocomial and associated with high rates of fluconazole resistance and mortality. Echinocandins are utilized as the first-line treatment. However, echinocandins are only available intravenously and are associated with increasingly higher rates of resistance by C. auris. Thus, a need exists for novel treatments that demonstrate potent activity against C. auris. Ibrexafungerp is a first-in-class triterpenoid antifungal agent. Similar to echinocandins, ibrexafungerp inhibits (1→3)-β-D-glucan synthase, a key component of the fungal cell wall, resulting in fungicidal activity against Candida spp. Ibrexafungerp demonstrates broad in vitro activity against various Candida spp. including C. auris and C. auris isolates with fks mutations. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC50 and MIC90) values in >400 C. auris isolates were 0.5 μg/mL and 1.0 μg/mL, respectively. Clinical results were reported for two patients with invasive candidiasis or candidemia due to C. auris treated during the CARES (Candidiasis Caused by Candida Auris) trial, an ongoing open-label study. These patients experienced a complete response after treatment with ibrexafungerp. Thus, ibrexafungerp represents a promising new antifungal agent for treating C. auris infections.
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Arastehfar A, Lass-Flörl C, Garcia-Rubio R, Daneshnia F, Ilkit M, Boekhout T, Gabaldon T, Perlin DS. The Quiet and Underappreciated Rise of Drug-Resistant Invasive Fungal Pathogens. J Fungi (Basel) 2020; 6:E138. [PMID: 32824785 PMCID: PMC7557958 DOI: 10.3390/jof6030138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Human fungal pathogens are attributable to a significant economic burden and mortality worldwide. Antifungal treatments, although limited in number, play a pivotal role in decreasing mortality and morbidities posed by invasive fungal infections (IFIs). However, the recent emergence of multidrug-resistant Candida auris and Candida glabrata and acquiring invasive infections due to azole-resistant C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, and Aspergillus spp. in azole-naïve patients pose a serious health threat considering the limited number of systemic antifungals available to treat IFIs. Although advancing for major fungal pathogens, the understanding of fungal attributes contributing to antifungal resistance is just emerging for several clinically important MDR fungal pathogens. Further complicating the matter are the distinct differences in antifungal resistance mechanisms among various fungal species in which one or more mechanisms may contribute to the resistance phenotype. In this review, we attempt to summarize the burden of antifungal resistance for selected non-albicansCandida and clinically important Aspergillus species together with their phylogenetic placement on the tree of life. Moreover, we highlight the different molecular mechanisms between antifungal tolerance and resistance, and comprehensively discuss the molecular mechanisms of antifungal resistance in a species level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Arastehfar
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack Meridian Health, Nutley, NJ 07110, USA;
| | - Cornelia Lass-Flörl
- Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria;
| | - Rocio Garcia-Rubio
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack Meridian Health, Nutley, NJ 07110, USA;
| | - Farnaz Daneshnia
- Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands; (F.D.); (T.B.)
| | - Macit Ilkit
- Division of Mycology, University of Çukurova, 01330 Adana, Turkey;
| | - Teun Boekhout
- Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands; (F.D.); (T.B.)
- Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), University of Amsterdam, 1012 WX Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Toni Gabaldon
- Life Sciences Programme, Barcelona, Supercomputing Center (BSC-CNS), Jordi Girona, 08034 Barcelona, Spain;
- Mechanisms of Disease Programme, Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB), 08024 Barcelona, Spain
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), 08010 Barcelona, Spain
| | - David S. Perlin
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack Meridian Health, Nutley, NJ 07110, USA;
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Osman M, Al Bikai A, Rafei R, Mallat H, Dabboussi F, Hamze M. Update on invasive fungal infections in the Middle Eastern and North African region. Braz J Microbiol 2020; 51:1771-1789. [PMID: 32623654 PMCID: PMC7335363 DOI: 10.1007/s42770-020-00325-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In the recent years, the epidemiology of invasive fungal infections (IFIs) has changed worldwide. This is remarkably noticed with the significant increase in high-risk populations. Although surveillance of such infections is essential, data in the Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) region remain scarce. In this paper, we reviewed the existing data on the epidemiology of different IFIs in the MENA region. Epidemiological surveillance is crucial to guide optimal healthcare practices. This study can help to guide appropriate interventions and to implement antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention and control programs in countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marwan Osman
- Laboratoire Microbiologie Santé et Environnement (LMSE), Doctoral School of Science and Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon
| | - Aisha Al Bikai
- Laboratoire Microbiologie Santé et Environnement (LMSE), Doctoral School of Science and Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon
| | - Rayane Rafei
- Laboratoire Microbiologie Santé et Environnement (LMSE), Doctoral School of Science and Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon
| | - Hassan Mallat
- Laboratoire Microbiologie Santé et Environnement (LMSE), Doctoral School of Science and Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon
| | - Fouad Dabboussi
- Laboratoire Microbiologie Santé et Environnement (LMSE), Doctoral School of Science and Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon
| | - Monzer Hamze
- Laboratoire Microbiologie Santé et Environnement (LMSE), Doctoral School of Science and Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon.
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Antifungal drug susceptibility, molecular basis of resistance to echinocandins and molecular epidemiology of fluconazole resistance among clinical Candida glabrata isolates in Kuwait. Sci Rep 2020; 10:6238. [PMID: 32277126 PMCID: PMC7148369 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-63240-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida glabrata readily develops resistance to echinocandins. Identification, antifungal susceptibility testing (AST) and resistance mechanism to echinocandins among C. glabrata was determined in Kuwait. C. glabrata isolates (n = 75) were tested by Vitek2, multiplex PCR and/or PCR-sequencing of rDNA. AST to fluconazole, caspofungin, micafungin and amphotericin B was determined by Etest and to micafungin by broth microdilution (BMD). Mutations in hotspot-1/hotspot-2 of FKS1/FKS2 and ERG11 were detected by PCR-sequencing. All isolates were identified as C. glabrata sensu stricto. Seventy isolates were susceptible and five were resistant to micafungin by Etest and BMD (essential agreement, 93%; categorical agreement, 100%). Three micafungin-resistant isolates were resistant and two were susceptible dose-dependent to caspofungin. Four and one micafungin-resistant isolate contained S663P and ∆659 F mutation, respectively, in hotspot-1 of FKS2. Micafungin-resistant isolates were genotypically distinct strains. Only one of 36 fluconazole-resistant isolate contained nonsynonymous ERG11 mutations. Thirty-four of 36 fluconazole-resistant isolates were genotypically distinct strains. Our data show that micafungin susceptibility reliably identifies echinocandin-resistant isolates and may serve as a surrogate marker for predicting susceptibility/resistance of C. glabrata to caspofungin. All micafungin-resistant isolates also harbored a nonsynonymous/deletion mutation in hotspot-1 of FKS2. Fingerprinting data showed that echinocandin/fluconazole resistance development in C. glabrata is not clonal.
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Khan Z, Ahmad S, Al-Sweih N, Mokaddas E, Al-Banwan K, Alfouzan W, Al-Obaid I, Al-Obaid K, Varghese S. Increasing Trends of Reduced Susceptibility to Antifungal Drugs Among Clinical Candida glabrata Isolates in Kuwait. Microb Drug Resist 2020; 26:982-990. [PMID: 32101082 DOI: 10.1089/mdr.2019.0437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Among non-albicans Candida species, Candida glabrata is the leading cause of invasive infections in critically ill patients. It is intrinsically less susceptible to fluconazole/other azoles that limits therapeutic options. This study determined distribution of C. glabrata in clinical specimens and determined their susceptibility to fluconazole, caspofungin, and amphotericin B by E test. During 8-year period (2011-2018), 1,410 isolates were obtained from 1,410 patients including 600, 409, and 131 isolates from respiratory, urine, and bloodstream specimens, respectively. Proportion of C. glabrata isolates was nearly the same during the two 4-year periods. Demographic details were available from 731 patients and susceptibility data for 1,225 isolates. C. glabrata isolation from bloodstream, respiratory, and urine specimens was higher from elderly (>60 years) versus younger patients. More bloodstream and urine isolates were obtained from female patients, however, more respiratory isolates were recovered from male patients (p = <0.05). Resistance to all three drugs increased during 2015-2018 compared with 2011-2014 but was more pronounced for fluconazole (p = 0.001). More isolates with reduced susceptibility to fluconazole/amphotericin B were obtained from elderly patients versus younger subjects and urine versus respiratory samples (p = <0.05). Our data show increasing trends of reduced susceptibility to antifungals, particularly fluconazole, among clinical C. glabrata isolates in Kuwait. Most isolates with reduced susceptibility to fluconazole/amphotericin B were obtained from elderly patients and urine/respiratory samples with urinary tract appearing as the most favorable niche for antifungal drug resistance development. The study also highlights the need for continued surveillance and better antifungal drug stewardship to control resistance development in C. glabrata.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziauddin Khan
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Jabriya, Kuwait
| | - Suhail Ahmad
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Jabriya, Kuwait
| | - Noura Al-Sweih
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Jabriya, Kuwait
| | - Eiman Mokaddas
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Jabriya, Kuwait
| | - Khalifa Al-Banwan
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Jabriya, Kuwait
| | - Wadha Alfouzan
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Jabriya, Kuwait
| | - Inaam Al-Obaid
- Department of Microbiology, Al-Sabah Hospital, Shuwaikh, Kuwait
| | - Khaled Al-Obaid
- Department of Microbiology, Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital, Jabriya, Kuwait
| | - Soumya Varghese
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Jabriya, Kuwait
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