Patients in various clinical states of diabetes mellitus (according to the recommendation of the American Diabetes Association) as a primary diagnosis were examined for fungal infections by Candida species. Candida spp. were detected in urine, in the material taken from the mouth cavity, nails, skin lesions, ears and eyes, by cultivation on the Sabouraud agar, CHROMagar Candida, and by saccharide assimilation. In the group of diabetics with symptoms of oral candidiasis and denture stomatitis C. albicans was identified in 8 cases, C. tropicalis in 3, C. parapsilosis in 2; 1 strain of C. guilliermondii was also isolated. In patients with urinary tract infections the presence of C. albicans was shown in 12 cases; C. parapsilosis was detected in 6 cases and two strains of each C. tropicalis and C. krusei were also isolated. In patients with leg ulcers C. albicans (25 cases), C. parapsilosis (5), C. tropicalis (3) and one strain of each C. krusei and C. robusta were isolated. Otomycosis was associated with one strain of C. albicans, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis and C. guilliermondii. C. albicans was most frequently associated with onychomycosis, paronychia and endophthalmitis; C. parapsilosis was the second most rated yeast.

• MeSH
• Candida classification   isolation & purification   MeSH
• Diabetes Mellitus MeSH
• Candidiasis, Cutaneous complications   microbiology   pathology   MeSH
• Candidiasis complications   diagnosis   microbiology   pathology   MeSH
• Diabetes Complications microbiology   pathology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Candidiasis, Oral complications   microbiology   pathology   MeSH
• Retrospective Studies MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

A total of 43 patients, 11 males and 32 females, with paronychia of the fingernails were examined for the presence of Candida spp. The yeast species isolated were identified using standard laboratory methods, including germ-tube production, morphology on rice agar with Tween 80, and mainly fermentation and assimilation of saccharides. In the male group, two Candida species were detected: C. albicans as the dominant species in 9 patients and C. parapsilosis in 2 cases. Similarly, C. albicans was the prevalent species also in females (n = 17); other Candida species detected were C. parapsilosis (n = 7), C. tropicalis (5) and C. krusei (3). In addition to the genus Candida, the following anaerobic and aerobic microorganisms were isolated from patients of both groups: Fusobacterium spp., Bacteroides spp., Staphylococcus aureus, alpha-hemolytic streptococci, group A beta-hemolytic streptococci, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Neisseria spp. and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

• MeSH
• Candida classification   isolation & purification   pathogenicity   MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Species Specificity MeSH
• Candidiasis etiology   microbiology   MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Mycological Typing Techniques MeSH
• Mycology methods   MeSH
• Nails microbiology   MeSH
• Paronychia etiology   microbiology   MeSH
• Risk Factors MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

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

The effects of the alkali metal ions (Li+, Na+ and K+) on the growth and on certain virulence factors (adhesion, cell-surface hydrophobicity and germinating ability) of Candida albicans were determined. High concentrations of these ions displayed an inhibitory effect on the growth of the Candida cells; preincubation in their presence showed a negative effect on all virulence factors studied. The changes induced during the preincubation remained there even when high concentration of the ions was removed from the cell suspension. In contrast, a considerable growth was found at high Na+ and K+ concentrations. Although alkali metal ions significantly decreased certain virulence traits of the fungus they did not totally inhibit adhesion and germ-tube formation. This suggests that C. albicans may represent a health hazard even at a high salt concentration.

• MeSH
• Metals, Alkali pharmacology   MeSH
• Cell Adhesion MeSH
• Candida albicans drug effects   growth & development   pathogenicity   MeSH
• Potassium pharmacology   MeSH
• Virulence Factors MeSH
• Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions MeSH
• Lithium pharmacology   MeSH
• Surface Properties MeSH
• Sodium pharmacology   MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Metals, Alkali MeSH
• Potassium MeSH
• Virulence Factors MeSH
• Lithium MeSH
• Sodium 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

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

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

Electrophoretic karyotyping was used to compare DNA probes of yeasts isolated from blood of preterm neonates (n = 66) in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and from the hands of healthy hospital personnel (n = 10). The yeasts were identified as Candida albicans using standard laboratory methods. DNA was extracted from yeasts and isolation of identical DNA strains from the pairs nurse-neonate suggested that one nurse transmitted one yeast strain by her hands to three neonates. Four neonates harbored two identical strains originating from two nurses, i.e. each nurse transmitted the same strain to two neonates. In the additional 7 cases transmission of 1 yeast strain by 1 nurse to 1 neonate was observed. Our data suggest that nonperinatal nosocomial transmission of C. albicans occurs in neonates, possibly via cross-contamination being transferred on hands of health care workers. The importance of careful hand washing of staff (health care workers) and other infection-control procedures (to prevent the nosocomial transmission of pathogens in the NICU environment) is emphasized.

• MeSH
• Candida albicans genetics   isolation & purification   MeSH
• Fungemia microbiology   MeSH
• Cross Infection microbiology   transmission   MeSH
• Intensive Care Units, Neonatal * MeSH
• Candidiasis epidemiology   microbiology   transmission   MeSH
• Karyotyping MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Infant, Premature blood   MeSH
• Infant, Newborn MeSH
• Personnel, Hospital * MeSH
• Infectious Disease Transmission, Professional-to-Patient MeSH
• Prospective Studies MeSH
• Hand MeSH
• Nurses MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Infant, Newborn MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Comparative Study MeSH
• Geographicals
• Slovakia epidemiology   MeSH

One-hundred patients with candidosis of the skin, mucous membranes and nail plates (confirmed by cultivation) were examined. Topical or systemic antimycotic treatment was successful in 58 patients. After a complete evaluation, 42 patients were found to suffer from factors supporting candidosis--diabetes mellitus (12), anemia (3) and various local factors (10 patients); 27 patients showed a deficiency in cell-mediated immunity. In addition to intensive antimycotic therapy, successful treatment is affected by the actual immunity level and can be ensured by efficient immunomodulation treatment of immunodeficiency.

• MeSH
• Antifungal Agents therapeutic use   MeSH
• Candida classification   pathogenicity   MeSH
• Phagocytosis MeSH
• Antigen-Antibody Complex blood   MeSH
• Immunocompromised Host * MeSH
• Candidiasis, Cutaneous drug therapy   immunology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Antibodies, Fungal blood   MeSH
• Risk Factors MeSH
• T-Lymphocytes immunology   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Antifungal Agents MeSH
• Antigen-Antibody Complex MeSH
• Antibodies, Fungal MeSH