Recent epidemiological surveillance studies have reported an increase in fungaemia caused by non-Candida albicans species, as well as a decrease in fluconazole susceptibility.
To evaluate changes in ...the epidemiology of fungaemia in Spain comparing data from a new surveillance epidemiological study conducted in 2009 with a previous study carried out from 1997 to 1999 (Pemán J, et al. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2005).
From January 2009 to February 2010, 44 Spanish hospitals participated in a prospective multicentre fungaemia surveillance study to ascertain whether there have been changes in the epidemiology and fluconazole susceptibility. Susceptibility was determined by the colorimetric method Sensititre Yeast One. Demographic and clinical data and the first isolate of each episode were gathered.
A total of 1,377 isolates from 1,357 fungaemia episodes were collected, 46.7% from patients older than 64years and 8.6% from children less than 1 year old. C. albicans (44.7%), Candida parapsilosis (29.1%), Candida glabrata (11.5%), Candida tropicalis (8.2%), and Candida krusei (1.9%) were the most frequent species isolated. Distribution varied with the geographical area. C. albicans incidence has increased significantly in the last 10years in Cataluña (39.1 vs. 54.7%, P=0.03) and decreased in the Valencian Community (49.1 vs. 34.6%, P=0.002) and Extremadura (58.3 vs. 20%, P=0.01). Susceptibility to fluconazole was similar for all geographical areas, although resistance in C. albicans was ten times greater for patients aged more than 64years. The overall rate of fluconazole resistance (MIC > 32 mg/L) has decreased with respect to that obtained 10years ago (3.7 vs. 2.5%) mainly in C. albicans (3 vs. 1.6%).
In the last ten years, species distribution and fluconazole susceptibility have not significantly changed, although a lower rate of fluconazole resistance has been observed. Species distribution varies with hospital, hospitalization Unit and geographical area.
A 25-year-old Caucasic female was referred to our clinic after suffering from infectious keratitis in the right eye for a month. The patient was a contact lens user and had no history of ocular ...trauma. Furthermore, the patient did not report any relevant antecedent. The main complaint was intense photophobia and pain. Infectious keratitis remains one of the main complications of contact lens wear and can become a therapeutic challenge in some patients. Although the most frequent causal agent is bacterial, other causes such as herpes virus, Acanthamoeba or fungi should be considered when antimicrobial therapy does not work as expected clinically. Fungal keratitis normally appears on previously damaged corneas, but it can also develop in contact lens wearers. Beauveria bassiana is an unusual pathogen which has been diagnosed more frequently lately per the clinical reports in the last 30 years, so it can be included in the diagnostic scheme when a fungal keratitis is suspected. In clinical management, AS-OCT may be a functional tool to assess the evolution and monitor the response to microbial agents and surgery. Although more studies are needed, some characteristic features have been described and can help to diagnose a fungal keratitis against other infections. AS-OCT can also play an important role in monitoring the corneal scarring after the keratitis episode, and it may be useful to plan post-infection therapy for visual rehabilitation.
