The evaluation criteria for characteristics of infection were clinical signs, weight loss, survival rates, histopathological

alterations and the number of viable fungal cells re-isolated from different organs; and those for immunological status were in vitro lymphoproliferative response, cell surface phenotyping and IFN-γ Selleck Caspase inhibitor production. Morphological evaluation showed that P. lilacinus isolates presented morphological characteristics consistent with those described in the literature. The immunocompetent mice could be infected by the fungi, but they did not develop the disease, unlike the immunosuppressed mice, which showed clinical signs of mycosis in an environment of suppressed cellular immune response. The hypothesis of latent infection reactivation in mice was not confirmed. The difference observed in the infection rate of the two fungi isolates points to an intrinsic variation between strains of P. lilacinus and led us to hypothesise that even in the presence of immunosuppressed environment,

the fungus virulence can play a role in the pathogenesis of hyalohyphomycosis. “
“Sepsis is a leading cause of death in the intensive care unit (ICU), with Candida spp. Selleckchem NVP-LDE225 in the forefront among the important pathogens. As recent studies have shown, survival outcome is strongly influenced by adequate antifungal therapy at an early stage that is often delayed by the time lag associated with microbiological diagnosis. Risk factor-based prediction models have a high negative predictive value, but positive prediction of candidaemia in the individual patient remains elusive. New antigen- or DNA-based methods for early diagnosis still await clinical validation. Their routine use is hampered GPX6 by methodological issues. Species

distribution of invasive Candida isolates in the ICU appears to be influenced primarily by age, previous hospitalisation and colonising species. In the context of the importance of adequate first-line treatment, recent guidelines favour the use of echinocandins in critically ill patients with symptoms evoking high suspicion of invasive candidiasis. This is supported by robust clinical trial data, a few interactions and low toxicity. Fluconazole is characterised by reduced activity against some important Candida species, elevated rates of persistent infection seen in comparative trials. Amphotericin B deoxycholate should be considered obsolete in ICU patients because of its high toxicity. Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is a rare devastating infection in the general ICU population, but some centres have reported elevated incidences and underdiagnosis as determined in autopsy-controlled studies. Treatment with mould-active agents such as voriconazole must be initiated early in patients with suspected IA. Intensive care patients are the patients with the highest risk of dying from systemic infections. Bacterial pathogens are the leading causative agents in nosocomial infection, Candida spp.