Posttreatment Antifungal Resistance among Colonizing Candida Isolates in Candidemia Patients: Results from a Systematic Multicenter Study

How can we optimize antifungal use and stewardship in the treatment of acute leukemia?

INTRODUCTION

The global need for antifungal stewardship is driven by spreading antimicrobial and antifungal resistance. Triazoles are the only oral and relatively well-tolerated class of antifungal medications, and usage is associated with acquired resistance and species replacement with intrinsically resistant organisms. On a per-patient basis, hematology patients are the largest inpatient consumers of antifungal drugs, but are also the most vulnerable to invasive fungal disease.

AREAS COVERED

In this review we discuss available and forthcoming antifungal drugs, antifungal prophylaxis and empiric antifungal therapy, and how a screening based and diagnostic-driven approach may be used to reduce antifungal consumption. Finally, we discuss components of an antifungal stewardship program, interventions that can be employed, and how impact can be measured. The search methodology consisted of searching PubMed for journal articles using the term antifungal stewardship plus program, intervention, performance measure or outcome before 1 January 2024.

EXPERT OPINION

Initial focus should be on implementing effective antifungal stewardship programs by developing and implementing local guidelines and using interventions, such as post-prescription review and feedback, which are known to be effective. Technologies such as microbiome analysis and machine learning may allow the development of truly individualized risk-factor-based approaches to antifungal stewardship in the future.

Evolutionary dynamics in gut-colonizing Candida glabrata during caspofungin therapy: Emergence of clinically important mutations in sphingolipid biosynthesis

Invasive fungal infections are associated with high mortality, which is exacerbated by the limited antifungal drug armamentarium and increasing antifungal drug resistance. Echinocandins are a frontline antifungal drug class targeting β-glucan synthase (GS), a fungal cell wall biosynthetic enzyme. Echinocandin resistance is generally low but increasing in species like Candida glabrata, an opportunistic yeast pathogen colonizing human mucosal surfaces. Mutations in GS-encoding genes (FKS1 and FKS2 in C. glabrata) are strongly associated with clinical echinocandin failure, but epidemiological studies show that other, as yet unidentified factors also influence echinocandin susceptibility. Furthermore, although the gut is known to be an important reservoir for emergence of drug-resistant strains, the evolution of resistance is not well understood. Here, we studied the evolutionary dynamics of C. glabrata colonizing the gut of immunocompetent mice during treatment with caspofungin, a widely-used echinocandin. Whole genome and amplicon sequencing revealed rapid genetic diversification of this C. glabrata population during treatment and the emergence of both drug target (FKS2) and non-drug target mutations, the latter predominantly in the FEN1 gene encoding a fatty acid elongase functioning in sphingolipid biosynthesis. The fen1 mutants displayed high fitness in the gut specifically during caspofungin treatment and contained high levels of phytosphingosine, whereas genetic depletion of phytosphingosine by deletion of YPC1 gene hypersensitized the wild type strain to caspofungin and was epistatic to fen1Δ. Furthermore, high resolution imaging and mass spectrometry showed that reduced caspofungin susceptibility in fen1Δ cells was associated with reduced caspofungin binding to the plasma membrane. Finally, we identified several different fen1 mutations in clinical C. glabrata isolates, which phenocopied the fen1Δ mutant, causing reduced caspofungin susceptibility. These studies reveal new genetic and molecular determinants of clinical caspofungin susceptibility and illuminate the dynamic evolution of drug target and non-drug target mutations reducing echinocandin efficacy in patients colonized with C. glabrata.

Biomarker Driven Antifungal Stewardship (BioDriveAFS) in acute leukaemia-a multi-centre randomised controlled trial to assess clinical and cost effectiveness: a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Acute leukaemias (AL) are life-threatening blood cancers that can be potentially cured with treatment involving myelosuppressive, multiagent, intensive chemotherapy (IC). However, such treatment is associated with a risk of serious infection, in particular invasive fungal infection (IFI) associated with prolonged neutropenia. Current practice guidelines recommend primary antifungal (AF) prophylaxis to be administered to high-risk patients to reduce IFI incidence. AFs are also used empirically to manage prolonged neutropenic fever. Current strategies lead to substantial overuse of AFs. Galactomannan (GM) and β-D-glucan (BG) biomarkers are also used to diagnose IFI. Combining both biomarkers may enhance the predictability of IFI compared to administering each test alone. Currently, no large-scale randomised controlled trial (RCT) has directly compared a biomarker-based diagnostic screening strategy without AF prophylaxis to AF prophylaxis (without systematic biomarker testing).

METHODS

BioDriveAFS is a multicentre, parallel, two-arm RCT of 404 participants from UK NHS Haematology departments. Participants will be allocated on a 1:1 basis to receive either a biomarker-based antifungal stewardship (AFS) strategy, or a prophylactic AF strategy, which includes existing standard of care (SoC). The co-primary outcomes will be AF exposure in the 12-month post randomisation and the patient-reported EQ-5D-5L measured at 12-month post randomisation. Secondary outcomes will include total AF exposure, probable/proven IFI, survival (all-cause mortality and IFI mortality), IFI treatment outcome, AF-associated adverse effects/events/complications, resource use, episodes of neutropenic fever requiring hospital admission or outpatient management, AF resistance in fungi (non-invasive and invasive) and a Desirability of Outcome Ranking. The trial will have an internal pilot phase during the first 9 months. A mixed methods process evaluation will be integrated in parallel to the internal pilot phase and full trial, aiming to robustly assess how the intervention is delivered. Cost-effectiveness analysis will also be performed.

DISCUSSION

The BioDriveAFS trial aims to further the knowledge of strategies that will safely optimise AF use through comparison of the clinical and cost-effectiveness of a biomarker-led diagnostic strategy versus prophylactic AF to prevent and manage IFI within acute leukaemia. The evidence generated from the study will help inform global clinical practice and approaches within antifungal stewardship.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ISRCTN11633399. Registered 24/06/2022.

Novel antifungals and treatment approaches to tackle resistance and improve outcomes of invasive fungal disease

SUMMARYFungal infections are on the rise, driven by a growing population at risk and climate change. Currently available antifungals include only five classes, and their utility and efficacy in antifungal treatment are limited by one or more of innate or acquired resistance in some fungi, poor penetration into "sequestered" sites, and agent-specific side effect which require frequent patient reassessment and monitoring. Agents with novel mechanisms, favorable pharmacokinetic (PK) profiles including good oral bioavailability, and fungicidal mechanism(s) are urgently needed. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of novel antifungal agents, with both improved known mechanisms of actions and new antifungal classes, currently in clinical development for treating invasive yeast, mold (filamentous fungi), Pneumocystis jirovecii infections, and dimorphic fungi (endemic mycoses). We further focus on inhaled antifungals and the role of immunotherapy in tackling fungal infections, and the specific PK/pharmacodynamic profiles, tissue distributions as well as drug-drug interactions of novel antifungals. Finally, we review antifungal resistance mechanisms, the role of use of antifungal pesticides in agriculture as drivers of drug resistance, and detail detection methods for antifungal resistance.

Optimizing the Treatment of Invasive Candidiasis-A Case for Combination Therapy

Invasive candidiasis is a rising global health threat with increasing incidence, persistently high mortality, and diminishing treatment options. Antifungal resistance has rapidly emerged and spread, with multidrug-resistant species deemed an urgent and serious threat. While acknowledging the key role of antifungal stewardship and infection control in curbing spread, we examine the role of antifungal monotherapy in driving resistance and the potential for combination therapy to prevent stress adaptation and emergence of drug resistance. In addition to its role in mitigating resistance, combination treatment may improve drug penetration, expedite fungal clearance, and allow lower, less toxic doses of individual drugs to be used. A growing body of laboratory-based evidence suggests that antifungal combinations can yield synergistic activity against Candida spp., including against frequently multidrug-resistant Candida auris. It is imperative to test these combinations in clinical trials, incorporating resistance end points as a marker of success.

Photoactivated riboflavin inhibits planktonic and biofilm growth of Candida albicans and non-albicans Candida species

Fungal infections caused by Candida species pose a serious threat to humankind. Antibiotics abuse and the ability of Candida species to form biofilm have escalated the emergence of drug resistance in clinical settings and hence, rendered it more difficult to treat Candida-related diseases. Lethal effects of Candida infection are often due to inefficacy of antimicrobial treatments and failure of host immune response to clear infections. Previous studies have shown that a combination of riboflavin with UVA (riboflavin/UVA) light demonstrate candidacidal activity albeit its mechanism of actions remain elusive. Thus, this study sought to investigate antifungal and antibiofilm properties by combining riboflavin with UVA against Candida albicans and non-albicans Candida species. The MIC20 for the fluconazole and riboflavin/UVA against the Candida species tested was within the range of 0.125-2 μg/mL while the SMIC50 was 32 μg/mL. Present findings indicate that the inhibitory activities exerted by riboflavin/UVA towards planktonic cells are slightly less effective as compared to controls. However, the efficacy of the combination towards Candida species biofilms showed otherwise. Inhibitory effects exerted by riboflavin/UVA towards most of the tested Candida species biofilms points towards a variation in mode of action that could make it an ideal alternative therapeutic for biofilm-related infections.

Genomic description of acquired fluconazole- and echinocandin-resistance in patients with serial Candida glabrata isolates

Candida glabrata is one of the most common causes of systemic candidiasis, often resistant to antifungal medications. To describe the genomic context of emerging resistance, we conducted a retrospective analysis of 82 serially collected isolates from 33 patients from population-based candidemia surveillance in the United States. We used whole-genome sequencing to determine the genetic relationships between isolates obtained from the same patient. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that isolates from 29 patients were clustered by patient. The median SNPs between isolates from the same patient was 30 (range: 7-96 SNPs), while unrelated strains infected four patients. Twenty-one isolates were resistant to echinocandins, and 24 were resistant to fluconazole. All echinocandin-resistant isolates carried a mutation either in the FKS1 or FKS2 HS1 region. Of the 24 fluconazole-resistant isolates, 17 (71%) had non-synonymous polymorphisms in the PDR1 gene, which were absent in susceptible isolates. In 11 patients, a genetically related resistant isolate was collected after recovering susceptible isolates, indicating in vivo acquisition of resistance. These findings allowed us to estimate the intra-host diversity of C. glabrata and propose an upper boundary of 96 SNPs for defining genetically related isolates, which can be used to assess donor-to-host transmission, nosocomial transmission, or acquired resistance. IMPORTANCE In our study, mutations associated to azole resistance and echinocandin resistance were detected in Candida glabrata isolates using a whole-genome sequence. C. glabrata is the second most common cause of candidemia in the United States, which rapidly acquires resistance to antifungals, in vitro and in vivo.

Molecular epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance of vaginal Candida glabrata isolates in Namibia

Candida glabrata is the most common non-albicans Candida species that causes vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). Given the intrinsically low susceptibility of C. glabrata to azole drugs, investigations into C. glabrata prevalence, fungal susceptibility profile, and molecular epidemiology are necessary to optimise the treatment of VVC. This molecular epidemiological study was conducted to determine antifungal drug profile, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with phenotypic antifungal resistance and epidemic diversity of C. glabrata isolates from women with VVC in Namibia. Candida glabrata isolates were identified using phenotypic and molecular methods. Antifungal susceptibility of strains was determined for fluconazole, itraconazole, amphotericin B, and anidulafungin. Whole genome sequencing was used to determine SNPs in antifungal resistance genes and sequence type (ST) allocation. Among C. glabrata isolates, all (20/20; 100%) exhibited phenotypic resistance to the azole class antifungal drug, (fluconazole), and phenotypic susceptibility to the polyene class (amphotericin B), and the echinocandins (anidulafungin). Non-synonymous SNPs were identified in antifungal resistance genes of all fluconazole-resistant C. glabrata isolates including ERG6 (15%), ERG7 (15%), CgCDR1 (25%), CgPDR1 (60%), SNQ2 (10%), FKS1 (5.0%), FKS2 (5.0%), CgFPS1 (5.0%), and MSH2 (15%). ST15 (n = 8/20, 40%) was predominant. This study provides important insight into phenotypic and genotypic antifungal resistance across C. glabrata isolates from women with VVC in Namibia. In this study, azole resistance is determined by an extensive range of SNPs, while the observed polyene and echinocandin resistance-associated SNPs despite phenotypic susceptibility require further investigation.

European candidaemia is characterised by notable differential epidemiology and susceptibility pattern: Results from the ECMM Candida III study

The objectives of this study were to assess Candida spp. distribution and antifungal resistance of candidaemia across Europe. Isolates were collected as part of the third ECMM Candida European multicentre observational study, conducted from 01 to 07-07-2018 to 31-03-2022. Each centre (maximum number/country determined by population size) included ∼10 consecutive cases. Isolates were referred to central laboratories and identified by morphology and MALDI-TOF, supplemented by ITS-sequencing when needed. EUCAST MICs were determined for five antifungals. fks sequencing was performed for echinocandin resistant isolates. The 399 isolates from 41 centres in 17 countries included C. albicans (47.1%), C. glabrata (22.3%), C. parapsilosis (15.0%), C. tropicalis (6.3%), C. dubliniensis and C. krusei (2.3% each) and other species (4.8%). Austria had the highest C. albicans proportion (77%), Czech Republic, France and UK the highest C. glabrata proportions (25-33%) while Italy and Turkey had the highest C. parapsilosis proportions (24-26%). All isolates were amphotericin B susceptible. Fluconazole resistance was found in 4% C. tropicalis, 12% C. glabrata (from six countries across Europe), 17% C. parapsilosis (from Greece, Italy, and Turkey) and 20% other Candida spp. Four isolates were anidulafungin and micafungin resistant/non-wild-type and five resistant to micafungin only. Three/3 and 2/5 of these were sequenced and harboured fks-alterations including a novel L657W in C. parapsilosis. The epidemiology varied among centres and countries. Acquired echinocandin resistance was rare but included differential susceptibility to anidulafungin and micafungin, and resistant C. parapsilosis. Fluconazole and voriconazole cross-resistance was common in C. glabrata and C. parapsilosis but with different geographical prevalence.

Fungemia in Hospitalized Adult Patients with Hematological Malignancies: Epidemiology and Risk Factors

Fungemia in hematologic malignancies (HM) has high mortality. This is a retrospective cohort of adult patients with HM and fungemia between 2012 and 2019 in institutions of Bogotá, Colombia. The epidemiological, clinical, and microbiological characteristics are described, and risk factors related to mortality are analyzed. One hundred five patients with a mean age of 48 years (SD 19.0) were identified, 45% with acute leukemia and 37% with lymphomas. In 42%, the HM was relapsed/refractory, 82% ECOG > 3, and 35% received antifungal prophylaxis; 57% were in neutropenia, with an average duration of 21.8 days. In 86 (82%) patients, Candida spp. was identified, and other yeasts in 18%. The most frequent of the isolates were non-albicans Candida (61%), C. tropicalis (28%), C. parapsilosis (17%), and C. krusei (12%). The overall 30-day mortality was 50%. The survival probability at day 30 in patients with leukemia vs. lymphoma/multiple myeloma (MM0 group was 59% (95% CI 46-76) and 41% (95% CI 29-58), p = 0.03, respectively. Patients with lymphoma or MM (HR 1.72; 95% CI 0.58-2.03) and ICU admission (HR 3.08; 95% CI 1.12-3.74) were associated with mortality. In conclusion, in patients with HM, non-albicans Candida species are the most frequent, and high mortality was identified; moreover, lymphoma or MM and ICU admission were predictors of mortality.

Management of Bacterial and Fungal Infections in the ICU: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention Recommendations

Bacterial and fungal infections are common issues for patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Large, multinational point prevalence surveys have identified that up to 50% of ICU patients have a diagnosis of bacterial or fungal infection at any one time. Infection in the ICU is associated with its own challenges. Causative organisms often harbour intrinsic and acquired mechanisms of drug-resistance, making empiric and targeted antimicrobial selection challenging. Infection in the ICU is associated with worse clinical outcomes for patients. We review the epidemiology of bacterial and fungal infection in the ICU. We discuss risk factors for acquisition, approaches to diagnosis and management, and common strategies for the prevention of infection.

Liposomal amphotericin B—the future

Advances in medicine have led to a growing number of people with compromised or suppressed immune systems who are susceptible to invasive fungal infections. In particular, severe fungal infections are becoming increasingly common in ICUs, affecting people within and outside of traditional risk groups alike. This is exemplified by the emergence of severe viral pneumonia as a significant risk factor for invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, and the recognition of influenza-associated pulmonary aspergillosis and, more recently, COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis.

The treatment landscape for haematological malignancies has changed considerably in recent years, and some recently introduced targeted agents, such as ibrutinib, are increasing the risk of invasive fungal infections. Consideration must also be given to the risk of drug–drug interactions between mould-active azoles and small-molecule kinase inhibitors.

At the same time, infections caused by rare moulds and yeasts are increasing, and diagnosis continues to be challenging. There is growing concern about azole resistance among both moulds and yeasts, mandating continuous surveillance and personalized treatment strategies.

It is anticipated that the epidemiology of fungal infections will continue to change and that new populations will be at risk. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment remain the most important predictors of survival, and broad-spectrum antifungal agents will become increasingly important. Liposomal amphotericin B will remain an essential therapeutic agent in the armamentarium needed to manage future challenges, given its broad antifungal spectrum, low level of acquired resistance and limited potential for drug–drug interactions.

Pan-Echinocandin Resistant C. parapsilosis Harboring an F652S Fks1 Alteration in a Patient with Prolonged Echinocandin Therapy

The isolation of a pan-echinocandin-resistant Candida parapsilosis strain (anidulafungin, caspofungin, micafungin and rezafungin EUCAST MICs > 8 mg/L) from urine of a patient following prolonged exposure to echinocandins (38 days of micafungin followed by 16 days of anidulafungin) is described. The isolate harbored the novel alteration F652S in the hotspot 1 region of fks1. Isogenic C. parapsilosis bloodstream isolates collected up to 1.5 months earlier from the same patient were susceptible to echinocandins (anidulafungin, caspofungin and micafungin EUCAST MICs 1−2, 1 and 1 mg/L, respectively) and contained wild-type FKS1 sequences. This is the first report of pan-echinocandin resistance in C. parapsilosis associated with an aminoacid change in hotspot 1 region of fks1.

PRO: Biomarker surveillance for invasive fungal infections without antifungal prophylaxis could safely reduce antifungal use in acute leukaemia

Mould-active antifungal prophylaxis is frequently used to prevent invasive fungal infection in patients with acute leukaemia being treated with intensive chemotherapy. Invasive fungal infections are difficult to diagnose, and despite the use of prophylaxis a high proportion of patients still receive therapeutic antifungals. Antifungal medications have important interactions, can cause serious adverse events, and may drive the proliferation of antifungal resistance. The use of two biomarkers, such as galactomannan in combination with the less-specific β-d-glucan, can mitigate the risk of not detecting non-Aspergillus species, as well as improving pooled sensitivity and specificity. We argue that regular biomarkers could be used safely as part of an antifungal stewardship strategy to reduce antifungal use, by both screening for infection in patients not on prophylaxis and ruling out infection in patients treated empirically.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Invasive Candidiasis

Candida species, belonging to commensal microbial communities in humans, cause opportunistic infections in individuals with impaired immunity. Pathogens encountered in more than 90% cases of invasive candidiasis include C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. krusei, C. tropicalis, and C. parapsilosis. The most frequently diagnosed invasive infection is candidemia. About 50% of candidemia cases result in deep-seated infection due to hematogenous spread. The sensitivity of blood cultures in autopsy-proven invasive candidiasis ranges from 21% to 71%. Non-cultural methods (beta-D-glucan, T2Candida assays), especially beta-D-glucan in combination with procalcitonin, appear promising in the exclusion of invasive candidiasis with high sensitivity (98%) and negative predictive value (95%). There is currently a clear deficiency in approved sensitive and precise diagnostic techniques. Omics technologies seem promising, though require further development and study. Therapeutic options for invasive candidiasis are generally limited to four classes of systemic antifungals (polyenes, antimetabolite 5-fluorocytosine, azoles, echinocandins) with the two latter being highly effective and well-tolerated and hence the most widely used. Principles and methods of treatment are discussed in this review. The emergence of pan-drug-resistant C. auris strains indicates an insufficient choice of available medications. Further surveillance, alongside the development of diagnostic and therapeutic methods, is essential.

Antifungal drug resistance: an update

The number of antifungal classes is small, and resistance is becoming a much more frequent problem. Much greater emphasis needs to be placed on susceptibility testing and antifungal stewardship. Such efforts demonstrably improve survival and overall clinical outcomes. Positively diagnosing a fungal infection with laboratory markers often allows antibacterial therapy to be stopped (ie, anti-tuberculous therapy in chronic pulmonary aspergillosis or antibiotics other than cotrimoxazole in Pneumocystis pneumonia), contributing to antimicrobial resistance control generally. Non-culture based diagnostics for fungal disease are transformational in terms of sensitivity and speed, but only occasionally identify antifungal resistance.

Surveillance of Antifungal Resistance in Candidemia Fails to Inform Antifungal Stewardship in European Countries

Background: The increasing burden of candidemia and the emergence of resistance, especially among non-Candida albicans strains, represent a new threat for public health. We aimed to assess the status of surveillance and to identify publicly accessible resistance data in Candida spp blood isolates from surveillance systems and epidemiological studies in 28 European and 4 European Free Trade Association member states. Methods: A systematic review of national and international surveillance networks, from 2015 to 2020, and peer-reviewed epidemiological surveillance studies, from 2005 to 2020, lasting for at least 12 consecutive months and with at least two centers involved, was completed to assess reporting of resistance to amphotericin B, azoles, and echinocandins in C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, C. krusei, and C. auris. Results: Only 5 (Austria, Italy, Norway, Spain, and United Kingdom) of 32 countries provided resistance data for Candida spp blood isolates. Among 322 surveillance studies identified, 19 were included from Belgium, Denmark, Iceland, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and United Kingdom. C. albicans and C. glabrata were the most monitored species, followed by C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis. C. krusei was not included in any national surveillance system; 13 studies assessed resistance. No surveillance system or study reported resistance for C. auris. Fluconazole, voriconazole, caspofungin, and amphotericin B resistance in C. albicans, C. glabrata, and C. parapsilosis were the most common drug–species combination monitored. Quality of surveillance data was poor, with only two surveillance systems reporting microbiological methods and clinical data. High heterogeneity was observed in modalities of reporting, data collection, and definitions. Conclusion: Surveillance of antifungal resistance in Candida spp blood-isolates is fragmented and heterogeneous, delaying the application of a translational approach to the threat of antifungal resistance and the identification of proper targets for antifungal stewardship activities. International efforts are needed to implement antifungal resistance surveillance programs in order to adequately monitor antifungal resistance.

Antifungal Susceptibility Testing Identifies the Abdominal Cavity as a Source of Candida glabrata-Resistant Isolates

To identify unrecognized niches of resistant Candida isolates and compartmentalization, we retrospectively studied the antifungal susceptibility of 1,103 Candida spp. isolates from blood cultures, nonblood sterile samples, and nonsterile samples. Antifungal susceptibility was assessed by EUCAST E.Def 7.3.2; sequencing and genotyping of the fks1-2 and erg11 genes were carried out for non-wild-type isolates. Resistance compartmentalization (presence of resistant and susceptible isogenic isolates in different anatomical sites of a given patient) was studied. Clinical charts of patients carrying non-wild-type isolates were reviewed. Most isolates (63%) were Candida albicans, regardless the clinical source; Candida glabrata (27%) was the second most frequently found species in abdominal cavity samples. Fluconazole and echinocandin resistance rates were 1.5 and 1.3%, respectively, and were highest in C. glabrata. We found 22 genotypes among non-wild-type isolates, none of them widespread across the hospital. Fluconazole/echinocandin resistance rates of isolates from the abdominal cavity (3.2%/3.2%) tended to be higher than those from blood cultures (0.7%/1.3%). Overall, 15 patients with different forms of candidiasis were infected by resistant isolates, 80% of whom had received antifungals before or at the time of isolate collection; resistance compartmentalization was found in six patients, mainly due to C. glabrata. The highest antifungal resistance rate was detected in isolates from the abdominal cavity, mostly C. glabrata. Resistance was not caused by the spread of resistant clones but because of antifungal treatment. Resistance compartmentalization illustrates how resistance might be overlooked if susceptibility testing is restricted to bloodstream isolates.

Epidemiological Characteristics and Drug Resistance of Fungemia in General Hospitals from 2010 to 2019

OBJECTIVE

This study intends to analyze the data of fungemia in a large tertiary hospital from 2010 to 2019, and is aimed at understanding its epidemic characteristics and drug resistance.

METHODS

The "Hospital Infection Real-Time Monitoring System" was used to retrieve the case information of patients who were hospitalized for more than 48 hours from 2010 to 2019. The questionnaire was designed to collect patients' basic information, infection situation, drug resistance, and other related information. Statistical software was used for analysis.

RESULTS

The fungi detection rate was in the range of 0.19%~0.75% in ten years, the average rate was 0.29%, and the rate 0.2%~0.3% since 2013, which was lower than that from 2010 to 2012. Non-Candida albicans was the main fungus, accounting for 62.50%. The drug resistance of non-C. albicans was higher than that of C. albicans, among which C. glabrata had the highest resistance rate. Data analysis showed that the patients with more serious basic diseases, combined with infection of other sites, surgery, long hospital stay, combination of antibiotics, and invasive catheterization, were more likely to occur fungemia.

CONCLUSION

We should pay more attention to the patients with high-risk factors of fungemia and focus on the drug resistance of non-C. albicans, choose the right antifungal drugs, so as to improve the level of diagnosis and treatment.

Emerging of Fatal Colitis with Multidrug-Resistant Candida glabrata after Small Bowel Transplantation

Background

Small bowel transplantation is a potential option for patients with intestinal-failure, and the incidences of infections caused by Candida species that are more resistant to antifungal drugs are increasing in these patients. In this manuscript, we reported a case of fatal colitis after small bowel transplantation induces by multidrug-resistant (MDR) Candida glabrata. Case Presentation. A 52-year-old man has undergone an extensive small bowel resection with the length of the remaining bowel which was less than 40 cm who became a candidate for transplantation. Four months after transplantation, the patient experienced severe bloody diarrhea with abdominal distension. Ileoscopy and colonoscopy did not show neither pathological change and rejection nor cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection posttransplantation. Abdomen computed tomography showed diffuse moderate small bowel wall thickening. After detection of budding yeast in the stool samples, stool culture was positive for Candida, DNA was extracted, and ITS1-5.8s-ITS2 region of the fungal agent was amplified. Sequencing analysis of PCR and antifungal susceptibility testing revealed that this isolate was multidrug-resistant C. glabrata. Besides, there was no evidence for other pathogens known to cause infection in various laboratory tests. Immediate antifungal treatments with caspofungin remained unsuccessful, and on the eighteenth day of admission, the patient expires with septic shock.

Conclusion

These findings highlight the challenging management of candidiasis in patients with small bowel transplantation. Infectious diseases due to MDR organisms have emerged as a vital clinical problem in this patient population.

The Emergence of Echinocandin-Resistant Candida glabrata Exhibiting High MICs and Related FKS Mutations in Turkey

The frequency of invasive fungal infections shows a rising trend as well as a high morbidity and mortality. Among the causative agents, a shift toward the non-albicans Candida species including Candida glabrata species complex is being observed in several centers. Echinocandin resistance is increasingly published; however, isolates presenting with an in vitro resistance have not yet been reported from Turkey. We, herein, report the first FKS mutant and phenotypically echinocandin-resistant C. glabrata clinical strains from a single center in Turkey. In a 43-year-old female patient, several enterocutaneous fistulae developed after a long term hospitalization period and several complicated surgeries. She eventually required parenteral nutrition via a tunneled central venous catheter (CVC). Following a number of bacteremic and fungemic episodes as well as intensive antimicrobial interventions (including fluconazole, caspofungin and anidulafungin), a CVC-related candidemia caused by C. glabrata was detected. The isolated strain yielded high minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for echinocandins and was categorized as resistant. A resistance-related mutation was detected in FKS2 HS1 (D666V). Blood cultures remained negative after the removal of the CVC and treatment with caspofungin and high-dose fluconazole. Following this first case, two additional C. glabrata strains with high echinocandin MICs were isolated from the urine cultures of two unrelated patients from different wards with different mutations in FKS2 HS1 (S663P and delF659). Our findings indicate that routine antifungal susceptibility testing is crucial and underlines the need for attention for the increasing trend of acquired echinocandin resistance in C. glabrata.

Candida glabrata: Pathogenicity and Resistance Mechanisms for Adaptation and Survival

Candida glabrata is a yeast of increasing medical relevance, particularly in critically ill patients. It is the second most isolated Candida species associated with invasive candidiasis (IC) behind C. albicans. The attributed higher incidence is primarily due to an increase in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) population, cancer, and diabetic patients. The elderly population and the frequent use of indwelling medical devices are also predisposing factors. This work aimed to review various virulence factors that facilitate the survival of pathogenic C. glabrata in IC. The available published research articles related to the pathogenicity of C. glabrata were retrieved and reviewed from four credible databases, mainly Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Scopus. The articles highlighted many virulence factors associated with pathogenicity in C. glabrata, including adherence to susceptible host surfaces, evading host defences, replicative ageing, and producing hydrolytic enzymes (e.g., phospholipases, proteases, and haemolysins). The factors facilitate infection initiation. Other virulent factors include iron regulation and genetic mutations. Accordingly, biofilm production, tolerance to high-stress environments, resistance to neutrophil killings, and development of resistance to antifungal drugs, notably to fluconazole and other azole derivatives, were reported. The review provided evident pathogenic mechanisms and antifungal resistance associated with C. glabrata in ensuring its sustenance and survival.

Tobacco Hornworm (Manduca sexta) caterpillars as a novel host model for the study of fungal virulence and drug efficacy

The two leading yeast pathogens of humans, Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans, cause systemic infections in >1.4 million patients worldwide with mortality rates approaching 75%. It is thus imperative to study fungal virulence mechanisms, efficacy of antifungal drugs, and host response pathways. While this is commonly done in mammalian models, which are afflicted by ethical and practical concerns, invertebrate models, such as wax moth larvae and nematodes have been introduced over the last two decades. To complement existing invertebrate host models, we developed fifth instar caterpillars of the Tobacco Hornworm moth Manduca sexta as a novel host model. These caterpillars can be maintained at 37°C, are suitable for injections with defined amounts of yeast cells, and are susceptible to the most threatening yeast pathogens, including C. albicans, C. neoformans, C. auris, and C. glabrata. Importantly, fungal burden can be assessed daily throughout the course of infection in a single caterpillar’s feces and hemolymph. Infected caterpillars can be rescued by treatment with antifungal drugs. Notably, these animals are large enough for weight to provide a reliable and reproducible measure of fungal disease and to facilitate host tissue-specific expression analyses. M. sexta caterpillars combine a suite of parameters that make them suitable for the study of fungal virulence.

Deciphering the epidemiology of invasive candidiasis in the intensive care unit: is it possible?

Invasive candidiasis (IC) has emerged in the last decades as an important cause of morbidity, mortality, and economic load in the intensive care unit (ICU). The epidemiology of IC is still a difficult and unsolved enigma for the literature. Accurate estimation of the true burden of IC is difficult due to variation in definitions and limitations inherent to available case-finding methodologies. Candidemia and intra-abdominal candidiasis (IAC) are the two predominant types of IC in ICU. During the last two decades, an increase in the incidence of candidemia has been constantly reported particularly in the expanding populations of elderly or immunosuppressed patents, with a parallel change in Candida species (spp.) distribution worldwide. Epidemiological shift in non-albicans spp. has reached worrisome trends. Recently, a novel, multidrug-resistant Candida spp., Candida auris, has globally emerged as a nosocomial pathogen causing a broad range of healthcare-associated invasive infections. Epidemiological profile of IAC remains imprecise. Though antifungal drugs are available for Candida infections, mortality rates continue to be high, estimated to be up to 50%. Increased use of fluconazole and echinocandins has been associated with the emergence of resistance to these drugs, which affects particularly C. albicans and C. glabrata. Crucial priorities for clinicians are to recognize the epidemiological trends of IC as well as the emergence of resistance to antifungal agents to improve diagnostic techniques and strategies, develop international surveillance networks and antifungal stewardship programmes for a better epidemiological control of IC.

Recent Trends in the Epidemiology of Fungal Infections

The breadth of fungi causing human disease and the spectrum of clinical presentations associated with these infections has widened. Epidemiologic trends display dramatic shifts with expanding geographic ranges, identification of new at-risk groups, increasing prevalence of resistant infections, and emergence of novel multidrug-resistant pathogenic fungi. Certain fungi have been transmitted between patients in clinical settings. Major health events not typically associated with mycoses resulted in larger proportions of the population susceptible to secondary fungal infections. Many health care-related, environmental, and socioeconomic factors have influenced these epidemiologic shifts. This review summarizes updates to clinically significant fungal pathogens in North America.

Detection of Cross-Resistance Between Methotrexate and Azoles in Candida albicans and Meyerozyma guilliermondii: An In Vitro Study

In recent years, there has been a rapid increase in the incidence of Candida infections. The different species of the genus Candida vary in their virulence abilities and susceptibility to antifungal agents, depending on several external factors. The result of such modifications may be cross-resistance, which is understood as an acquired resistance to a certain antimicrobial agent after exposure to another drug. The aim of this study was to determine the possibility of cross-resistance between fluconazole, voriconazole, itraconazole, and methotrexate in Candida albicans and Meyerozyma guilliermondii (syn. Candida guilliermondii ). Fifteen strains of M. guilliermondii and eight strains of C. albicans , including the standard strains, were tested. For all strains, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for fluconazole, voriconazole, and itraconazole were determined before and after stimulation with methotrexate. The median MICs in M. guilliermondii before and after stimulation were 9.333 and 64 mg/L ( p = 0.005) for fluconazole; 0.917 and 1.667 mg/L ( p = 0.001) for itraconazole, respectively. No significant change in MIC was observed for voriconazole. For C. albicans strains, the median MICs before and after stimulation were 0.917 and 64 mg/L ( p = 0.012) for fluconazole; 0.344 and 1.135 mg/L ( p = 0.018) for voriconazole, respectively. There was no significant change in MIC values for itraconazole. Thus, this study demonstrates the presence of cross-resistance between voriconazole, itraconazole, fluconazole, and methotrexate for the selected strains. Methotrexate exposure induces different responses when certain drugs are used for various species. Therefore, if a patient was previously exposed to methotrexate, there may be a higher risk of treatment failure with fluconazole than with other azoles such as voriconazole for fungemia caused by M. guilliermondii or itraconazole for C. albicans infection.

Invasive candidiasis in critical care: challenges and future directions

Invasive candidiasis is the most common critical care-associated fungal infection with a crude mortality of ~ 40-55%. Important factors contributing to risk of invasive candidiasis in ICU include use of broad-spectrum antimicrobials, immunosuppressive drugs, and total parenteral nutrition alongside iatrogenic interventions which breach natural barriers to infection [vascular catheters, renal replacement therapy, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), surgery]. This review discusses three key challenges in this field. The first is the shift in Candida epidemiology across the globe to more resistant non-albicans species, in particular, the emergence of multi-resistant Candida glabrata and Candida auris, which pose significant treatment and infection control challenges in critical care. The second challenge lies in the timely and appropriate initiation and discontinuation of antifungal therapy. Early antifungal strategies (prophylaxis, empirical and pre-emptive) using tools such as the Candida colonisation index, clinical prediction rules and fungal non-culture-based tests have been developed: we review the evidence on implementation of these tools in critical care to aid clinical decision-making around the prescribing and cessation of antifungal therapy. The third challenge is selection of the most appropriate antifungal to use in critical care patients. While guidelines exist to aid choice, this heterogenous and complex patient group require a more tailored approach, particularly in cases of acute kidney injury, liver impairment and for patients supported by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. We highlight key research priorities to overcome these challenges in the future.

Pharmacokinetics of echinocandins in suspected candida peritonitis: A potential risk for resistance

INTRODUCTION

A possible increase in Candida resistance, especially in Candida glabrata, has been speculated according to poor diffusion of echinocandins to peritoneal fluid.

MATERIALS/METHODS

Peritoneal and serum concentrations of caspofungin, micafungin and anidulafungin were analysed in surgical patients with suspected candida peritonitis. After 4 days of starting therapy, serum and peritoneal samples (through peritoneal drainage) were obtained at baseline, 1, 6, 12 and 24 h of drug administration. Micafungin and anidulafungin concentrations were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC/F), whereas caspofungin concentrations were established by bioassay.

RESULTS

Twenty-three critically ill patients with suspected abdominal fungal infection who were receiving an echinocandin were prospectively recruited. No specific criteria were applied to prescribe one specific echinocandin. No special clinical differences were observed among the three groups of patients. All were receiving antibiotic therapy, 80% required inotropic drugs, and fungal peritonitis was confirmed in 74% of them. The AUC_{0_24h} (mg × h/L) obtained in serum and peritoneal fluid were: 126.84 and 34.38, 98.52 and 18.83, and 66.9 and 8.78 for anidulafungin, micafungin and caspofungin, respectively. The median concentration in peritoneal fluid ranged from 0.66 to 1.82 μg/mL for anidulafungin, 0.68-0.88 μg/mL for micafungin and 0.21-0.46 μg/mL for caspofungin.

CONCLUSION

The results showed moderate penetration of echinocandins into the peritoneal fluid of these patients. These levels are below the threshold of resistance mutant selection published by other authors. This could justify a potential risk of resistance in patients with prolonged treatment with echinocandins and suboptimal control of abdominal infection.

Manogepix (APX001A) Displays Potent In Vitro Activity against Human Pathogenic Yeast, but with an Unexpected Correlation to Fluconazole MICs

Manogepix (APX001A) is the active moiety of the novel drug candidate fosmanogepix (APX001). We previously reported the broad-spectrum activity of manogepix but also observed a correlation between increased manogepix and fluconazole MICs. Here, we extended this study and included isolates with acquired fluconazole resistance. Isolates (n = 835) were identified using CHROMagar, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), and, when needed, internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing. EUCAST E.Def 7.3.1 susceptibility testing included manogepix, amphotericin B, anidulafungin, micafungin, fluconazole, and voriconazole. Manogepix wild-type-upper-limit (WT-UL) values were established following EUCAST principles for the epidemiological cutoff value (ECOFF) setting allowing wild-type/non-wild-type classification. Drug-specific MIC correlations were investigated using Pearson's correlation. Manogepix modal MICs were low (range, 0.004 to 0.06 mg/liter against 16/20 included species). Exceptions were Candida krusei and Candida inconspicua and, to a lesser extent, Candida kefyr and Pichia kluyveri The activity was independent of Fks echinocandin hot spot alterations (n = 17). Adopting the WT-UL established for Candida albicans, Candida dubliniensis, Candida glabrata, Candida parapsilosis, and Candida tropicalis, 14/724 (1.9%) isolates were non-wild type for manogepix. Twelve of these (85.7%) were also non-wild type for fluconazole. A statistically significant correlation was observed between manogepix and fluconazole MICs for C. albicans, C. dubliniensis, C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis, and C. tropicalis (Pearson's r = 0.401 to 0.575) but not between manogepix and micafungin or amphotericin B MICs for any species except C. tropicalis (r = 0.519 for manogepix versus micafungin). Broad-spectrum activity was confirmed for manogepix against contemporary yeast. However, a 1 to 4 2-fold dilutions increase in manogepix MICs is observed in a subset of isolates with acquired fluconazole resistance. Further studies on the potential underlying mechanism and implication for optimal dosing are warranted.

Antimicrobial de-escalation in critically ill patients: a position statement from a task force of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM) and European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Critically Ill Patients Study Group (ESGCIP)

BACKGROUND

Antimicrobial de-escalation (ADE) is a strategy of antimicrobial stewardship, aiming at preventing the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by decreasing the exposure to broad-spectrum antimicrobials. There is no high-quality research on ADE and its effects on AMR. Its definition varies and there is little evidence-based guidance for clinicians to use ADE in the intensive care unit (ICU).

METHODS

A task force of 16 international experts was formed in November 2016 to provide with guidelines for clinical practice to develop questions targeted at defining ADE, its effects on the ICU population and to provide clinical guidance. Groups of 2 experts were assigned 1-2 questions each within their field of expertise to provide draft statements and rationale. A Delphi method, with 3 rounds and an agreement threshold of 70% was required to reach consensus.

RESULTS

We present a comprehensive document with 13 statements, reviewing the evidence on the definition of ADE, its effects in the ICU population and providing guidance for clinicians in subsets of clinical scenarios where ADE may be considered.

CONCLUSION

ADE remains a topic of controversy due to the complexity of clinical scenarios where it may be applied and the absence of evidence to the effects it may have on antimicrobial resistance.

Molecular Typing of Candida glabrata

The yeast Candida glabrata has emerged, second only to Candida albicans, to be one of the most frequently isolated fungi in clinical specimen from human. Its frequent resistance towards azole antifungal drugs and the high capacity to form biofilms on indwelling catheters of individual isolates render it an often difficult to treat pathogen. Hence, there is a notably increasing scientific and clinical interest in this species. This has led to the development of a variety of molecular tools for genetic modification, strain collections, and last but not least different approaches to analyse the population structure among isolates of different geographical and clinical contexts. Often, these are used to study correlations (or the absence thereof) with different pathogenicity, virulence, or drug resistance traits. Three molecular methods have been used to type within the C. glabrata population on a genetic level by multiple studies: multi-locus sequence typing, microsatellite length polymorphisms, and clustering of whole-genome sequencing data, and these are subject of this review.

Clinical and Laboratory Development of Echinocandin Resistance in Candida glabrata: Molecular Characterization

The pathogenic yeast Candida glabrata has become a public health issue due to the increasing number of echinocandin resistant clinical strains reported. In this study, acquisition and development of resistance to this antifungal class were studied in serial C. glabrata isolates from five patients admitted in two Spanish hospitals with a resistant profile against echinocandins associated with different mutations in hot-spot 1 of FKS2 gene. For two of these patients susceptible FKS wild-type isolates obtained prior to resistant ones were also investigated. Isolates were genotyped using multilocus sequence typing and microsatellite length polymorphism techniques, which yielded comparable results. Susceptible and resistant isolates from the same patient had the same genotype, being sequence type (ST) 3 the most prevalent among them. Isolates with different FKS mutations but the same ST were present in the same patient. MSH2 gene alterations were also studied to investigate their correlation with antifungal resistance acquisition but no association was found with antifungal resistance nor with specific genotypes. In vitro exposure to increasing concentrations of micafungin to susceptible isolates developed colonies carrying FKS mutations in agar plates containing a minimum concentration of 0.06 mg/L of micafungin after less than 48 h of exposure. We investigated the correlation between development of resistance and genotype in a set of susceptible strains after being in vitro exposed to micafungin and anidulafungin but no correlation was found. Mutant prevention concentration values and spontaneous growth frequencies after selection with both echinocandins were statistically similar, although FKS mutant colonies were more abundant after micafungin exposure (p < 0.001). Mutation S663P and F659 deletion were the most common ones found after selection with both echinocandins.

Pediatric Candidemia Epidemiology and Morbidities: A Nationwide Cohort

BACKGROUND

Candidemia is the most frequent pediatric fungal infection, but incompletely elucidated in population-based settings. We performed a nationwide cohort study including all pediatric patients with candidemia in Denmark from 2004 to 2014 to determine age, incidence, species distribution, underlying diseases, patient management and outcomes.

METHODS

All candidemia episodes were identified through the active nationwide fungemia surveillance program. Susceptibility testing followed the EUCAST E.Def 7 (European Committee on Antifungal Susceptibility Testing, Edition Definitive) reference method. χ test, Fisher exact test and Venn diagrams were used for statistical analyses.

RESULTS

One hundred fifty-three pediatric patients (≤ 15 years) with 158 candidemia episodes were identified. The overall annual incidence rate was 1.3/100,000 population, higher for neonates (5.7/100,000 live births) and low birth weight neonates (103.8/100,000 live births). From 2004 to 2009 to 2010 to 2014, the proportion of Candida albicans decreased from 74.4% to 64.7%, whereas fluconazole resistance increased from 7.8% to 17.7%. Virtually all patients had at least 1 underlying disease (98.6%) and multimorbidity was common (43.5%, ≥2 underlying diseases). Underlying diseases differed by age with heart malformations and gastrointestinal disease prevalent in children younger than 3 years. The overall 30-days mortality was 10.2% and highest for neonates (17.1%). Mortality increased from 2004 to 2010 to 2014, driven by an increase among older children.

CONCLUSION

This first nationwide epidemiologic study of pediatric candidemia confirmed a high incidence among neonates and a substantial burden of comorbidities. Moreover, an increasing proportion of fluconazole resistant nonalbicans species was observed. Our findings underline the importance of choosing correct treatment and continuous surveillance of pediatric candidemia.

Detection of Echinocandin-Resistant Candida glabrata in Blood Cultures Spiked with Different Percentages of FKS2 Mutants

Infections caused by the coexistence of Candida glabrata echinocandin-resistant and echinocandin-susceptible cells may be possible, and the detection of FKS mutants when the proportions of FKS mutants are underrepresented poses a problem. We assessed the role of EUCAST and methods directly performed on positive blood cultures-Etest (ET_DIR) and anidulafungin-containing agar plate assays-for detecting resistance in C. glabrata isolates containing different amounts of echinocandin-susceptible and -resistant Candida glabrata isolates. We studied 10 pairs of C. glabrata isolates involving parental echinocandin-susceptible isolates and isogenic echinocandin-resistant FKS mutant isolates. Three inocula per pair (1 ×  10³ to 5  ×  10³, 1 ×  10² to 5  ×  10², and 10 to 50 CFU/ml) spanning suspensions with different amounts of susceptible/resistant isolates (9/1, 5/5, and 1/9 proportions for each the three inocula) were prepared. The suspensions were spiked in Bactec bottles and incubated until they were positive, and the three methods were compared. The EUCAST method showed echinocandin resistance when the bottles were spiked with susceptible/resistant isolates at 5/5 and 1/9 proportions; the results for the suspensions with a 9/1 proportion of susceptible/resistant isolates were susceptible for three pairs. We observed with the ET_DIR resistance to both echinocandins in all pairs (resistance to micafungin and anidulafungin; MICs, ≥0.064  mg/liter and ≥0.125  mg/liter, respectively) and a double ring of growth inhibition in two pairs. The anidulafungin-containing plates showed fungal growth in the 90 spiked blood cultures at 48 h. Testing of echinocandin susceptibility with the ET_DIR directly on the positive blood culture bottles is a reliable and rapid method to detect echinocandin resistance in C. glabrata On the other hand, resistance can be missed with the EUCAST method when resistant isolates are underrepresented.

Overview of antifungal dosing in invasive candidiasis

In the past, most antifungal therapy dosing recommendations for invasive candidiasis followed a 'one-size fits all' approach with recommendations for lowering maintenance dosages for some antifungals in the setting of renal or hepatic impairment. A growing body of pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic research, however now points to a widespread 'silent epidemic' of antifungal underdosing for invasive candidiasis, especially among critically ill patients or special populations who have altered volume of distribution, protein binding and drug clearance. In this review, we explore how current adult dosing recommendations for antifungal therapy in invasive candidiasis have evolved, and special populations where new approaches to dose optimization or therapeutic drug monitoring may be needed, especially in light of increasing antifungal resistance among Candida spp.

Efficacy and safety of antimicrobial de-escalation as a clinical strategy

INTRODUCTION

De-escalation is a widely recommended strategy in regard to guidelines, with an associated adherence to guidelines being around 50%. This review discusses data supporting de-escalation and possible obstacles for its implementation. Areas covered: Although it does not have a consensual definition, de-escalation consists of reducing the spectrum of empirical antimicrobial treatment based on the microbiological findings. Many observational studies have suggested that this strategy is likely safe and efficient for treating various types of infection. However, randomized controlled trials published as of now have not shown any improvement on the outcomes. Regarding the adverse effects of de-escalation on ecological pressure and multidrug resistance emergence, the data are contradictory. The implementation of new techniques, such as rapid diagnosis, can help guide clinicians. Expert opinion: De-escalation should be included as part of a large antibiotic stewardship program to balance the risk and benefit of each administration, and each physician prescribing antibiotics should be challenged for the quality of her/his prescription on a daily basis. In the future, one of our duties will involve determining whether a delay of antimicrobial treatment - making it possible to improve diagnostic performance and obtain the first laboratory results - is either safe or unsafe for our patients.

Low and constant micafungin concentrations may be sufficient to lead to resistance mutations in FKS2 gene of Candida glabrata

We studied the ability of five echinocandin-susceptible C. glabrata isolates to acquire in vitro resistance to anidulafungin and micafungin. All isolates became phenotypically resistant after 2-4 days of exposure to low and constant micafungin concentrations (P < .05). Mutations in the HS1 region of the FKS2 gene were found in all isolates. The acquisition of resistance was not related to the previous use of antifungal treatment in the patients or the presence of mutations at MSH2 gene. We found differences (P < .0001) in the median survival of Galleria mellonella larvae infected with FKS2 mutant isolates (5 days) and wild-type isolates (3 days).

Treatment of candidemia in a nationwide setting: increased survival with primary echinocandin treatment

Background

In accordance with international guidelines, primary antifungal treatment (AFT) of candidemia with echinocandins has been nationally recommended in Denmark since 2009. Our nationwide cohort study describes the management of candidemia treatment focusing on the impact of prophylactic AFT on species distribution, the rate of adherence to the recommended national guidelines for AFT, and the effect of AFT on patient outcomes.

Materials and methods

Incident candidemia cases from a 2-year period, 2010-2011, were included. Information on AFT was retrospectively collected from patient charts. Vital status was obtained from the Danish Civil Registration System. HRs of mortality were reported with 95% CIs using Cox regression.

Results

A total of 841 candidemia patients was identified. Prior to candidemia diagnosis, 19.3% of patients received AFT (162/841). The risk of non-albicans candidemia increased after prior AFT (59.3% vs 45.5% among nontreated). Echinocandins as primary AFT were given for 44.2% (302/683) of patients. Primary treatment with echinocandins resulted in adequate treatment in a higher proportion of patients (97.7% vs 72.1%) and was associated with lower 0- to 14-day mortality compared with azole treatment (adj. HR 0.76, 95% CI: 0.55-1.06). Significantly lower 0- to 14-day mortality was observed for patients with Candida glabrata and Candida krusei with echinocandin treatment compared with azole treatment (adj. HR 0.50, 95% CI: 0.28-0.89), but not for patients with Candida albicans or Candida tropicalis.

Conclusion

The association shown between prior AFT and non-albicans species underlines the importance of treatment history when selecting treatment for candidemia. Compliance with national recommendations was low, but similar to previously reported international rates. Primary treatment of candidemia with echinocandins compared with azoles yielded both a higher proportion of adequately treated patients and improved mortality rates. This real-life setting supports guidelines recommendation, and further focus on compliance with these seems warranted.

Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST) Genotypes of Candida glabrata Bloodstream Isolates in Korea: Association With Antifungal Resistance, Mutations in Mismatch Repair Gene (Msh2), and Clinical Outcomes

Candida glabrata bloodstream infection (BSI) isolates from a particular geographic area have been reported to comprise a relatively small number of the major sequence types (STs) by multilocus sequence typing (MLST) analysis. Yet little is known about the characteristics of major ST strains of C. glabrata. To address this question in Korea, we investigated antifungal resistance and non-synonymous mutations of the mismatch repair gene (msh2 mutations) in C. glabrata BSI isolates, as well as associated clinical characteristics, and compared the results according to MLST genotype. We assessed a total of 209 C. glabrata BSI isolates from seven hospitals in Korea for 2 years (2009 and 2014). Clinical features of candidemia and their outcomes were analyzed for 185 available cases. According to MLST, ST7 (47.8%) was the most common type, followed by ST3 (22.5%); the remainder represented 28 types of minor STs (29.7%). Fluconazole-resistance (FR) rates for ST7, ST3, and other strains were 9.0% (9/100), 8.5% (4/47), and 4.8% (3/62), respectively, and all were susceptible to amphotericin B and micafungin. All ST7 isolates harbored the V239L mutation in msh2, known to confer hypermutability, while 91.5% of ST3 isolates did not harbor the msh2 mutation. Overall, isolates of the same ST had identical msh2 mutations, with the exception of nine isolates. The msh2 mutations were identified in 68.8% (11/16) of the FR isolates and 67.4% (130/193) of the fluconazole susceptible-dose dependent isolates. There was no significant difference in all clinical characteristics between ST3 and ST7. However, the 30-day mortality of C. glabrata candidemia due to the two major ST (ST3 or ST7) strains was significantly higher than that of candidemia due to other minor ST strains (45.1 vs. 25.0%, p < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis also showed that two major STs (ST3 and ST7) were independent predictors of 30-day mortality. This study showed for the first time that two STs (ST7 and ST3) were predominant among BSI isolates in Korea, and that C. glabrata BSI isolates belonging to two major MLST genotypes are characterized by higher mortality. In addition, most msh2 mutations align with MLST genotype, irrespective of FR.

Invasive candidiasis

Invasive candidiasis is an important health-care-associated fungal infection that can be caused by several Candida spp.; the most common species is Candida albicans, but the prevalence of these organisms varies considerably depending on geographical location. The spectrum of disease of invasive candidiasis ranges from minimally symptomatic candidaemia to fulminant sepsis with an associated mortality exceeding 70%. Candida spp. are common commensal organisms in the skin and gut microbiota, and disruptions in the cutaneous and gastrointestinal barriers (for example, owing to gastrointestinal perforation) promote invasive disease. A deeper understanding of specific Candida spp. virulence factors, host immune response and host susceptibility at the genetic level has led to key insights into the development of early intervention strategies and vaccine candidates. The early diagnosis of invasive candidiasis is challenging but key to the effective management, and the development of rapid molecular diagnostics could improve the ability to intervene rapidly and potentially reduce mortality. First-line drugs, including echinocandins and azoles, are effective, but the emergence of antifungal resistance, especially among Candida glabrata, is a matter of concern and underscores the need to administer antifungal medications in a judicious manner, avoiding overuse when possible. A newly described pathogen, Candida auris, is an emerging multidrug-resistant organism that poses a global threat.

Development of Echinocandin Resistance in Candida tropicalis following Short-Term Exposure to Caspofungin for Empiric Therapy

Isolation of two echinocandin-resistant Candida tropicalis strains from endotracheal secretions of a patient following short-term exposure to caspofungin is described. Both strains exhibited resistance to echinocandins by Etest and reference broth microdilution, showing a homozygous S645P mutation within the hot spot 1 (HS-1) region of FKS1 and belonging to a unique multilocus sequence type. Other C. tropicalis isolates collected from patients in the same intensive care unit within a 60-day period were susceptible to echinocandins and contained wild-type FKS1 sequences.

Update from a 12-Year Nationwide Fungemia Surveillance: Increasing Intrinsic and Acquired Resistance Causes Concern

New data from the years 2012 to 2015 from the Danish National Fungemia Surveillance are reported, and epidemiological trends are investigated in a 12-year perspective (2004 to 2015). During 2012 to 2015, 1,900 of 1,939 (98%) fungal bloodstream isolates were included. The average incidence was 8.4/100,000 inhabitants, and this appears to represent a stabilizing trend after the increase to 10.1/100,000 in 2011. The incidence was higher in males than females (10.0 versus 6.8) and in patients above 50 years, and those changes were mainly driven by an increasing incidence among 80-to-89-year-old males (65.3/100,000 in 2014 to 2015). The proportion of Candida albicans isolates decreased from 2004 to 2015 (64.4% to 42.4%) in parallel with a doubling of the proportion of Candida glabrata isolates (16.5% to 34.6%, P < 0.0001). C. glabrata was more common among females (34.0% versus 30.4% in males). Following an increase in 2004 to 2011, the annual drug use stabilized during the last 2 to 3 years of that time period but remained higher than in other Nordic countries. This was particularly true for the fluconazole and itraconazole use in the primary health care sector, which exceeded the combined national levels of use of these compounds in each of the other Nordic countries. Fluconazole susceptibility decreased (68.5%, 65.2%, and 60.6% in 2004 to 2007, 2008 to 2011, and 2012 to 2015, respectively, P < 0.0001), and echinocandin resistance emerged in Candida (0%, 0.6%, and 1.7%, respectively, P < 0.001). Amphotericin B susceptibility remained high (98.7%). Among 16 (2.7%) echinocandin-resistant C. glabrata isolates (2012 to 2015), 13 harbored FKS mutations and 5 (31%) were multidrug resistant. The epidemiological changes and the increased incidence of intrinsic and acquired resistance emphasize the importance of continued surveillance and of strengthened focus on antifungal stewardship.

Mutant Prevention Concentration and Mutant Selection Window of Micafungin and Anidulafungin in Clinical Candida glabrata Isolates

We report the mutant prevention concentration (MPC) and mutant selection window (MSW) for micafungin and anidulafungin administered to treat Candida glabrata We also determine the mutation frequency. We studied 20 echinocandin-susceptible, fluconazole-intermediate, and FKS wild-type C. glabrata isolates. Adjusted inocula were stroked directly onto Sabouraud agar plates containing different concentrations of micafungin or anidulafungin and visually inspected daily for up to 5 days of incubation. Individual colonies growing on the plates containing echinocandins at 1 mg/liter were selected for antifungal susceptibility testing. The FKS genes of the resulting individual phenotypically resistant colonies were sequenced, and the MPC, MSW, and mutation frequency were determined. Biofilm was quantified, and the growth kinetics and virulence (Galleria mellonella model) of the resulting individual FKS mutant colonies were studied. For micafungin and anidulafungin, we found similar results for the MPC (0.06 to 2 mg/liter and 0.25 to 2 mg/liter, respectively), MSW (0.015 to 2 mg/liter for both echinocandins), and mutation frequency (3.7 × 10-8 and 2.8 × 10-8, respectively). A total of 12 isolates were able to grow at 1 mg/liter on echinocandin-containing plates, yielding a total of 32 phenotypically resistant colonies; however, FKS2 mutations (ΔF658, S663P, W715L, and E655A) were observed only in 21 colonies. We did not find differences in biofilm formation, the kinetic parameters studied, or the median survival of larvae infected by wild-type isolates and the resulting individual FKS2 mutant colonies. Echinocandin concentrations lower than 2 mg/liter can lead to selection of resistance mutations in C. glabrata isolates in vitro.

Antifungal susceptibility patterns of colonized Candida species isolates from immunocompromised pediatric patients in five university hospitals

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Colonization of Candida species is common in pediatric patients admitted to hematology-oncology wards. The aim of this study was to identify colonized Candida species and their susceptibility patterns in hematologic pediatric patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Samples were collected from mouth, nose, urine and stool of the patients admitted to five university hospitals and cultured on sabouraud dextrose agar. The isolates were identified by API 20 C AUX system and their susceptibility patterns were evaluated by CLSI M27-A3 and S4.

RESULTS

From 650 patients, 320 (49.2%) were colonized with 387 Candida species. Candida albicans was the most prevalent isolated species, followed by Candida glabrata, Candida tropicalis, Candida famata, Candida kefyr and Candida kuresi. The epidemiological cut off value (ECV) for all Candida species to amphotericin B was ≤0.25 μg except C. krusei (4 μg). The resistance rate to fluconazole in this study in C. albicans was 4.9% with ECV 8 μg/ml, followed by C. tropicalis 8.8% with ECV 0.5 μg/ml. Voriconazole and posaconazole were effective antifungal agents for all Candida isolates. The ECV of C. albicans, Candida parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, C. glabrata and C. krusei for itraconazole were 0.5, 0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2 μg, respectively. The resistant and intermediate rates of Candida species to caspofungin in this study were 2.9%, 5.9%, 18.8%, 47.9%, 0.0% and 16.7% in C. tropicalis, C. glabrata and C. parapsilosis respectively.

CONCLUSION

C. albicans was the most prevalent species in pediatric colonized patients. New azole agents like voriconazole and posaconazole are effective against non-albicans Candida species. Increase in intermediate species is alarming to future emerging resistant species.

Antifungal susceptibility testing of Candida species isolated from the immunocompromised patients admitted to ten university hospitals in Iran: comparison of colonizing and infecting isolates

Background

Antifungal susceptibility testing is a subject of interest in the field of medical mycology. The aim of the present study were the distributions and antifungal susceptibility patterns of various Candida species isolated from colonized and infected immunocompromised patients admitted to ten university hospitals in Iran.

Methods

In totally, 846 Candida species were isolated from more than 4000 clinical samples and identified by the API 20 C AUX system. Antifungal susceptibility testing was performed by broth microdilution method according to CLSI.

Results

The most frequent Candida species isolated from all patients was Candida albicans (510/846). The epidemiological cutoff value and percentage of wild-type species for amphotericin B and fluconazole in Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, Candida glabrata and Candida krusei were 0.5 μg/ml (95%) and 4 μg/ml (96%); 1 μg/ml (95%) and 8 μg/ml (95%); 0.5 μg/ml (99%) and 19 μg/ml (98%); and 4 μg/ml (95%) and 64 μg/ml (95%), respectively. The MIC90 and epidemiological cutoff values to posaconazole in Candida krusei were 0.5 μg/ml. There were significant differences between infecting and colonizing isolates of Candida tropicalis in MIC 90 values of amphotericin B, and isolates of Candida glabrata in values of amphotericin B, caspofungin, and voriconazole (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that the susceptibility patterns of Candida species (colonizing and infecting isolates) in immunocompromised patients are not the same and acquired resistance was seen in some species.

A new small-molecule KRE2 inhibitor against invasive Candida parapsilosis infection

Aim: To investigate the antifungal activity of MOL3, a small molecule that was selected by virtual screening, against Candida spp. Materials & methods: The antifungal activity of MOL3 was evaluated using standard strains and clinical isolates. Activity was evaluated in both in vitro tests and animal models. Results: The minimum fungicidal concentration of MOL3 against Candida spp. ranged from 16 to 128 mg/l. MOL3 at the sub-minimum fungicidal concentration inhibited hyphal elongation. The remaining yeast cells presented morphological changes and were metabolically inactive. MOL3 was toxicologically inert both in vitro and in the animal model. MOL3 also reduced experimental systemic infection by C. parapsilosis in mice. Conclusion: The selection of MOL3 by virtual screening was successful, revealing a promising antifungal candidate.