Mycological analysis of swabs and scraping samples from the external ear canals of 40 patients with clinically diagnosed otomycosis (10 neonates, 30 adults) revealed the presence of fungi as etiological agents. They were investigated microscopically using 20 % potassium hydroxide, and by cultivation on Sabouraud's glucose agar. The Candida species were identified using the germ-tube test, micromorphology observations of colonies on rice agar, and particularly by the commercial kit AUXAcolor. The following Candida species were identified in the aural material examined: C. albicans (n = 21; 52.5 %), C. parapsilosis (11; 27.5), C. tropicalis (3; 7.5), C. krusei (3; 7.5), C. guilliermondii (2; 5.0). The above yeasts were present in samples together with Staphylococcus epidermidis (31), S. aureus (16), alpha-hemolytic streptococci (14), Neisseria spp. (14), Proteus mirabilis (3), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (3), Escherichia coli (1) and Haemophilus influenzae (1). The most frequent predisposing factors for otomycosis were swimming in public pools and/or bath, spa and diabetes mellitus.

• MeSH
• Candida classification   isolation & purification   pathogenicity   MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Species Specificity MeSH
• Candidiasis microbiology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Infant, Newborn MeSH
• Otitis Externa microbiology   MeSH
• Risk Factors MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Infant, Newborn MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Slovakia MeSH

Occurrence of Candida spp. was determined in a population of 60 infants, 1-15-month-old, with diaper dermatitis, admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit in Hospital Saca (Kosice, Slovakia). Specimens were obtained from the perianal, pubic, inguinal, or gluteal areas that showed signs of secondary infection as manifested by erythema, oozing, vesiculopustular lesions, and pus formation. The most frequently isolated species was C. albicans (41), followed by C. parapsilosis (8), C. tropicalis (4), C. pulcherrima (4), C. guilliermondii (2), and C. zeylanoides (1). Other organisms present in the mixed culture from the diaper area were Staphylococcus aureus (6), Escherichia coli (3), and 2 strains of each group B and D streptococci, and Proteus mirabilis. Infants diapered exclusively in disposable diapers showed less rash than those diapered exclusively or sometimes in cloth diapers.

• MeSH
• Candida isolation & purification   MeSH
• Candidiasis, Cutaneous microbiology   pathology   MeSH
• Infant MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Diaper Rash microbiology   pathology   MeSH
• Diapers, Infant microbiology   MeSH
• Diarrhea, Infantile microbiology   pathology   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Infant MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the 5.8S rRNA gene and the internal transcribed spacers (ITS1 and ITS2) was used for examination of 66 isolates belonging to 19 species. Intraspecies variability was found in the examined region of 11 species (Candida albicans, C. catenulata, C. colliculosa, C. glabrata, C. kefyr, C. melinii, C. parapsilosis, C. guillermondii, C. solanii, C. tropicalis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae). Region of ITS-5.8S rDNA was amplified using the primers ITS1 and ITS4. The amplicons were digested by HaeIII, HinfI and CfoI. The recognized intraspecies variability was confirmed in the second step, in which the shorter fragments of this region were amplified using primers ITS1 and ITS2 and analyzed by capillary electrophoresis. Considerable intraspecific variability renders this method unsuitable for species identification, whereas it can be useful for epidemiological tracing of isolates.

• MeSH
• Candida classification   genetics   MeSH
• DNA, Fungal analysis   MeSH
• DNA Primers * MeSH
• Species Specificity MeSH
• Electrophoresis, Capillary MeSH
• Genetic Variation * MeSH
• Genes, rRNA MeSH
• Fungi classification   genetics   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• DNA, Ribosomal Spacer analysis   genetics   MeSH
• Mycological Typing Techniques MeSH
• Mycoses microbiology   MeSH
• Polymerase Chain Reaction methods   MeSH
• RNA, Ribosomal, 5.8S analysis   genetics   MeSH
• Saccharomyces cerevisiae classification   genetics   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Evaluation Study MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• DNA, Fungal MeSH
• DNA Primers * MeSH
• DNA, Ribosomal Spacer MeSH
• RNA, Ribosomal, 5.8S MeSH

The cryptococcal polysaccharide antigen was detected in 10 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and 23 serum samples from cryptococcal meningitis and intestinal cryptococcosis by the cryptococcal antigen latex agglutination system (CALAS). CALAS titers in CSF and serum samples of cryptococcal meningitis ranged over 8-2048 and 32-2048, respectively, while in cases of intestinal cryptococcosis, serum titers ranged over 8-2048. The isolates of yeast Cryptococcus neoformans were determined to be of serotype A or of the A/D pair. The total leukocyte count and biochemical parameters in CSF were significantly increased as indicators of microbial infection. Furthermore, the in vitro change of the teleomorph (sexual state) to the anamorph (asexual state) was also detected and the teleomorph state changed in vivo to the encapsulated anamoph state which is more virulent during infection in vivo than the yeast-like noncapsulated form. Two primers for internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of ribosomal DNA were used for molecular detection of C. neoformans. After PCR amplification, a DNA band of 415 bp, visualized on agarose gel, indicated the presence of C. neoformans cells in the tested CSF and serum samples. The primer sensitivity was also characterized using purified yeast chromosomal DNA as template; it was about 20 pg or more chromosomal DNA which represents about 10 cells of C. neoformans. The primers were also specific for ITS regions of C. neoformans and gave negative results with Candida albicans and E. coli chromosomal DNA templates.

• MeSH
• Cryptococcus neoformans classification   genetics   isolation & purification   MeSH
• Child MeSH
• DNA, Fungal blood   cerebrospinal fluid   MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Meningitis, Cryptococcal diagnosis   microbiology   MeSH
• Cryptococcosis diagnosis   microbiology   MeSH
• Latex Fixation Tests MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Mycological Typing Techniques MeSH
• Intestinal Diseases diagnosis   microbiology   MeSH
• Polymerase Chain Reaction methods   MeSH
• Polysaccharides blood   cerebrospinal fluid   MeSH
• Child, Preschool MeSH
• Sensitivity and Specificity MeSH
• Serotyping MeSH
• Check Tag
• Child MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Child, Preschool MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Evaluation Study MeSH
• Geographicals
• Egypt MeSH
• Names of Substances
• cryptococcal polysaccharide MeSH Browser
• DNA, Fungal MeSH
• Polysaccharides MeSH

The incidence of non-albicans Candida and non-Candida species isolated from the urine of patients admitted to various departments of the Faculty Hospital of the Medical Faculty of Safárik University in Kosice was examined. From a total of 94 samples of analyzed urine 58 strains of C. albicans and 36 strains of yeasts belonging to 6 species of non-albicans Candida and non-Candida spp. were detected: C. parapsilosis (n = 23), C. tropicalis (6), C. krusei (3), C. robusta (2), C. catenulata (1) and Cryptococcus neoformans (1). In relation to the diagnosis, the yeasts were isolated from patients suffering from a kidneys disease, epididymitis, diabetes, neoplastic diseases, urogenital anomalies, obstructive uropathy, cystitis, prostatitis, hemolytic-uremic syndrome, and others.

• MeSH
• Candida classification   growth & development   isolation & purification   MeSH
• Urinary Tract Infections microbiology   MeSH
• Candidiasis complications   microbiology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Infant, Newborn, Diseases MeSH
• Infant, Newborn MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Infant, Newborn MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH

In the period from November 1998 to June 2001 13 cases of nosocomial meningitis were reported. Candida albicans was isolated from 54% of the patients (7); C. parapsilosis from 23% (3); C. tropicalis from 15% (2) and C. krusei from 8% (1). C. albicans was isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of five children with the following diagnoses: nonspecified tumor of the central nervous system, Hodgkin's disease, meningitis, suspect neuroinfection, and sepsis. Examination of CSF allowed us to detect 2 strains of C. albicans from adult patients, one after neurosurgery because of a brain tumor and one with a vascular disease of the brain. C. parapsilosis was found in CSF from two premature children and one child with epilepsy. Two isolates of C. tropicalis were obtained from both blood and the CSF of a child from the neonatal intensive care unit and from a child from pediatric oncology with multiple malignant neoplasms. Only one strain of C. krusei was found in the oral cavity and CSF of a patient after neurosurgery performed after head trauma.

• MeSH
• Candida classification   isolation & purification   MeSH
• Child MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Meningitis, Fungal cerebrospinal fluid   microbiology   MeSH
• Intensive Care Units, Neonatal MeSH
• Candidiasis cerebrospinal fluid   epidemiology   microbiology   MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Cerebrospinal Fluid microbiology   MeSH
• Infant, Newborn MeSH
• Risk Factors MeSH
• Check Tag
• Child MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Infant, Newborn MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

In the last few years mycoses have been caused by fungi formerly considered to be harmless for humans. They cause diseases of plants and insects; some of them are also used in the industry. They are now usually called "emerging fungi". We investigated this flora with respect to their potential to cause infections in hospitals. These fungi are present in the air, on medical objects and instrumentation, in the respiratory tract and on the hands of hospital staff; other sources have been identified in the use of iatrogenic methods. Mycotic diseases, their risk factors, their clinical pictures, and spectra of agents were analyzed in 1990-2000; the results were compared with data in the literature. Transplantations were the most frequent risk factors, fungemia and abscess the most frequent clinical picture and filamentous fungi (genera Absidia, Acremonium, Alternaria, Apophysomyces, Aspergillus, Bipolaris, Cladophialophora, Cunninghamella, Exserohilum, Fusarium, Chaetomium, Chrysosporium, Lecythophora, Ochroconis, Paecilomyces, Pythium, Rhizopus, Scedosporium, Scopulariopsis) were the most frequent agents of nosocomial infections. These filamentous fungi and also some yeasts (genera Candida, Cryptococcus, Trichosporon) bring about different clinical syndromes in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients.

• MeSH
• Aspergillosis etiology   MeSH
• Immunocompromised Host MeSH
• Cross Infection drug therapy   microbiology   prevention & control   MeSH
• Critical Illness MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Mycoses drug therapy   microbiology   prevention & control   MeSH
• Opportunistic Infections drug therapy   microbiology   prevention & control   MeSH
• Risk Factors MeSH
• Transplantation adverse effects   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

An indirect immunofluorescence assay was performed to detect antibodies to Candida albicans blastospores and germ tubes. Serum specimens were obtained from 82 patients with neoplastic diseases in the orofacial region and thrush of the oral mucosa. C. albicans was identified in the oral cavity of 63 patients investigated but serum anti-Candida antibodies were detected in only 23 of them. Serological examination showed that titers of antibodies to C. albicans blastospores ranged from 1:20 to 1:1280. High titers from 1:640 to 1:1280 were detected in patients without antibiotic, cytostatic, or radiotherapeutic treatment. The titers of antibodies to C. albicans germ tubes ranged from 1:20 to 1:640. Our results indicate that titers of antibodies to the C. albicans germ tubes were lower and were detected in a smaller number of patients.

• MeSH
• Candida albicans immunology   isolation & purification   MeSH
• Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect MeSH
• Candidiasis complications   immunology   microbiology   MeSH
• Carcinoma blood   complications   microbiology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Mouth Neoplasms blood   complications   microbiology   MeSH
• Candidiasis, Oral complications   immunology   microbiology   MeSH
• Antibodies, Fungal blood   MeSH
• Mouth Mucosa microbiology   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Antibodies, Fungal MeSH

Mycological investigation of 108 nail specimens taken from a total of 41 patients examined over three years included direct microscopy and repeated cultures. A higher incidence of onychomycosis of the fingernails (75%) was observed in women while afflictions of the toenails (71%) prevailed in men. The highest prevalence of onychomycosis was found in patients between 50 and 70 years of age. Candida albicans was the dominant organism causing onychomycosis (prevalence rate 60.9%), followed by C. parapsilosis (19.6%), C. tropicalis (9.8), C. krusei (4.9), C. guilliermondii and C. zeylanoides (2.4% each).

• MeSH
• Candida albicans growth & development   MeSH
• Foot Dermatoses microbiology   MeSH
• Hand Dermatoses microbiology   MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Candidiasis microbiology   MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Onychomycosis microbiology   MeSH
• Retrospective Studies MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

The proportion of Candida and non-Candida species in the clinical material from patients with respiratory-tract diseases was determined. C. albicans was isolated in 102 cases. An additional 89 strains of yeasts, isolated in association with respiratory diseases, belonged to 10 non-albicans Candida spp. and Cryptococcus spp. The prevailing species, which occurred in 47 cases, was C. parapsilosis. C. tropicalis, C. glabrata, and C. guilliermondii were isolated in 12, 10, and 9 cases, respectively. Four strains of C. krusei and three strains of C. lusitaniae and one strain each of C. freyschussii, C. robusta, C. zeylanoides, and Cryptococcus neoformans were also isolated.

• MeSH
• Candida classification   isolation & purification   MeSH
• Cryptococcus isolation & purification   MeSH
• Respiratory Tract Infections microbiology   MeSH
• Candidiasis epidemiology   microbiology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Infant, Premature, Diseases epidemiology   microbiology   MeSH
• Infant, Newborn MeSH
• Sputum microbiology   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Infant, Newborn MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH