About
94
Publications
16,054
Reads
How we measure 'reads'
A 'read' is counted each time someone views a publication summary (such as the title, abstract, and list of authors), clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the full-text. Learn more
1,496
Citations
Introduction
Publications
Publications (94)
Infocus 2022 XX Reunión de Expertos en Micología Clínica
El Departamento Micología (DM) del INEI produce cultivos de referencia certificados (CRC) según la norma ISO/IEC 17034:2016 para utilizar en el control interno de métodos y en Programas de Control Externo de la Calidad. Para su validación se realizó un estudio interlaboratorio con 31 partici...
Species of the genus Scedosporium (family Microascaceae, phylum Ascomycota) are responsible for a wide range of opportunistic human infections, and have a low susceptibility to most antifungal drugs. It is well known that the pattern of Scedosporium species distribution varies according to geographic region. To assess the diversity of Scedosporium...
Species of the genus Scedosporium (family Microascaceae, phylum Ascomycota) are responsible for a wide range of opportunistic human infections, and have a low susceptibility to most antifungal drugs. It is well known that the pattern of Scedosporium species distribution varies according to geographic region. To assess the diversity of Scedosporium...
The National Quality Control Program in Mycology (PNCCM) of Argentina was established in 1996 to improve the quality of the mycological diagnosis, to help establish and to set up standardized procedures and continuous training of laboratory staff. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of the PNCCM in the 1996–2018 period. Data from...
The aim of this work was to know the frequency and geographical distribution of genotypes and mating types of Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii species complexes isolated from human infections in Argentina during the period from April 2009 to April 2011. A multicenter study was conducted, in which 372 isolates were obtained from 61 la...
Cryptococcosis is a fungal disease affecting more than one million people per year worldwide. Its main etiological agents are Cryptococcus neoformans species complex and Cryptococcus gattii species complex. Cryptococcal meningitis (CM) is considered an AIDS-defining condition. Rapid diagnosis by cryptococcal antigen assays, either the latex aggluti...
We report the first case of cryptococcosis due to Cryptococcus decagattii in an immunocompetent pediatric patient from an indigenous community in Argentina with a successful outcome. Two isolates (blood, cerebrospinal fluid) were genotyped by restriction fragment length polymorphism of the orotidine monophosphate pyrophosphorylase (URA5) gene as VG...
Purpose of Review
To provide information about the emergence of fluconazole resistance in Candida albicans isolated from vaginal discharge, in a global context, and to update the in vitro susceptibility profile of this species from Argentina.
Recent Findings
Vulvovaginal candidiasis is the second most common vaginal infection after vaginal bacteri...
Reference fungal cultures (RFCs) are essential for the internal quality control of laboratories. The production of these cultures requires standardized procedures (IRAM 14950:2016 and ISO 17034:2016 standards) carried out by a recognized and accredited laboratory. The aim of this work was to produce RFC in paper disks of autochthonous strains, char...
El Departamento Micología del Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas produce cultivos microbianos de referencia (CMR) de hongos miceliales y levaduras. Con el objetivo de demostrar su competencia como productor de CMR, se implementó un sistema de gestión de calidad según la norma ISO 17034:2016 “Requisitos generales para productores de mate...
The aim of this work was to reidentify strains previously identified as Candida guilliermondii and Candida famata by conventional phenotypic methods conserved in a culture collection from Argentina using ribosomal DNA sequencing, ACT1 gene sequencing, and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization - time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS)....
Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has revolutionized the identification of microorganisms in clinical laboratories because it is rapid, relatively simple to use, accurate, and can be used for a wide number of microorganisms. Several studies have demonstrated the utility of this technique in...
We studied 23 clinical and environmental strains of Sporothrix schenckii sensu lato collected from 1984 to 2017 in Argentina. The molecular identification (partial sequencing of a fragment of the calmodulin gene) of the strains was performed. For the yeast and mycelial phases, the in vitro susceptibility testing by a microdilution reference method...
Background:
No reliable data are available in the province of Buenos Aires regarding the frequency of dermatophytoses and other fungal diseases. The distribution of the clinical forms and the species involved are also unknown.
Aims:
To present the data collected by the laboratories participating in the Mycology Network of the province of Buenos...
Purpose of review
This review summarizes the information available of Candida haemulonii sensu lato, and updates the in vitro susceptibility profile of the isolates of these species from Argentina. C. haemulonii sensu lato causes fungemia in low frequency in adults and children; however, the knowledge about this emerging yeast is relevant since it...
Purpose of Review
Cryptococcal meningitis is the most common fungal infection of the central nervous system and the third most frequent neurological complication in AIDS patients. To understand the Argentinean epidemiology of cryptococcosis, several efforts have been made by the National Reference Laboratory in Clinical Mycology.
Recent Findings
I...
Purpose of Review
The purpose of this study is to analyze the current knowledge about matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) identification of clinical yeasts comparing with the ribosomal DNA sequencing identification. We also review the lasts taxonomical and nomenclature changes of clinical yeas...
The molecular basis of fluconazole resistance in Cryptococcus neoformans has been poorly studied. A common azole resistance mechanism in Candida species is the acquisition of point mutations in the ERG11 gene encoding the enzyme lanosterol 14-α-demethylase, target of the azole class of drugs. In C. neoformans only two mutations were described in th...
Epidemiological cut-off values (ECVs) based on minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) distribution have been recently proposed for some antifungal drug/Cryptococcus neoformans combinations. However, these ECVs vary according to the species studied, being serotypes and the geographical origin of strains, variables to be considered. The aims were to...
Mycotic keratitis by moulds (MKM) is an important cause for corneal blindness and usually carries an unfavorable prognosis.
This study describes the risk factors and demographic and microbiological features of all MKM cases in Santa Lucía Ophthalmology Hospital during a period of 6 years.
A prospective study was performed for all MKM cases diagnose...
Infections due to Cryptococcus neoformans cause severe disease, mostly in AIDS patients. The antifungal drug recommended for the initial treatment of these infections is amphotericin B with or without flucytosine, but treatment failure occurs, associated with high mortality. Thus, antifungal susceptibility testing is needed. However, the in vitro s...
Trichosporon species are emerging causative agents of mycoses; most are documented in immunocompromised patients. Species identification
is important for epidemiological purposes in order to better define species clinical associations and to improve antifungal
treatment. Here, we studied a collection of 41 Trichosporon strains recovered from hospit...
In the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Cryptococcus gattii genotype AFLP4/VGI was found to be associated with decaying wood in hollows of different tree species. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of C. gattii in the environment of riverside cities of the river Paraná, and to describe its serotypes and molecular types. Five hund...
As the distribution of Candida species and their susceptibility to antifungal agents have changed, a new means of accurately and rapidly identifying these species is necessary for the successful early resolution of infection and the subsequent reduction of morbidity and mortality. The current work aimed to evaluate ribosomal RNA gene sequencing for...
Background
During 4 months, and while conducting an environmental sampling of air, 2 cases of aspergillosis by Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus) were diagnosed at an oncohematological center in Buenos Aires, Argentina.AimsThe aim of this study was to know the variability and the genetic relationship between the clinical and environmental isolates, obt...
During the last decades, there has been an increasing proportion of patients susceptible to invasive fungal disease (IFD). The epidemiology of IFD varies mainly due to geography, antifungal exposure, and nosocomial reservoirs. We reviewed the Argentinean epidemiology of invasive mold disease (IMD) by analyzing laboratory and clinical data. Invasive...
BACKGROUND: During 4 months, and while conducting an environmental sampling of air, 2 cases of aspergillosis by Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus) were diagnosed at an oncohematological center in Buenos Aires, Argentina. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to know the variability and the genetic relationship between the clinical and environmental isol...
La incidencia global anual de EIHM en los centros polivalentes fue de 0.26/10.000 días/paciente mientras que en un centro oncohematológico fue de 8.
Candida pseudorugosa is a novel species closely related to Candida rugosa for which only one case has been reported. We report the first case of a bloodstream infection in humans caused by a Candida sp. closely related to C. pseudorugosa. We contribute evidence to show this organism as a potential human pathogen that may be misidentified by convent...
Epidemiology of invasive mold disease in Argentina
The Mycology Department of the Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas "Dr. C. Malbrán", conducted the Second National Multicenter Survey on Fungemia due to Yeasts in Argentina. The aim was to obtain updated data of the frequency of the causative species encountered and their in vitro susceptibility to seven antifungal agents. Yeast species...
Candida dubliniensis is an emerging pathogen that can cause invasive disease in patients who have a variety of clinical conditions. C. dubliniensis is often misidentified as Candida albicans by clinical laboratories. In Argentina, incidence data are still scarce, and only one systemic infection has been reported. This study aims to determine the pr...
Los métodos de referencia E. Def 7.1 y M27-A3, que detectan resistencia in vitro a los antifúngicos, son onerosos y muy laboriosos, por lo que su implementación en los laboratorios hospitalarios es limitada. Existen técnicas comerciales de simple realización, que permitirían obtener resultados comparables a los que se obtienen con los métodos están...
Reference methods E.Def 7.1 and M27-A3 detect in vitro resistance; however, they are expensive and very laborious. Thus, their actual use in hospital laboratories is limited. There are commercial techniques available, having easier accessibility and development, which would yield results comparable to those of the reference methods. The objectives...
Los casos clínicos de coccidioidomicosis en Argentina son pocos y han tenido lugar fundamentalmente en la extensa región árida precordillerana. Este trabajo tiene como objetivos realizar una revisión retrospectiva del total de casos de coccidioidomicosis documentados en Argentina desde el año 1892 hasta 2009 y describir una serie de casos ocurridos...
Histoplasma capsulatum is the agent of histoplasmosis, a deep mycosis mainly afflicting immunocompromised patients. Rapid identification of the fungus isolated from clinical specimens allows timely administration of specific treatment.
To assess the ability of a dual PCR system targeting specific H. capsulatum DNA sites to identify fungal species i...
Clinical cases of coccidioidomycosis are rare in Argentina and are generally found in the large arid precordilleran area of the country. This study aims to perform a retrospective review of all coccidioidomycosis cases documented in the country from 1892 to 2009, and to describe those occurring in the last 4 years. One hundred and twenty eight case...
Three fungal species causing human disease, namely Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, Histoplasma capsulatum and Coccidioides sp., are endemic in different areas of Argentina. Rates of infection in domestic dogs have been used in other Latin American countries as indicators of the presence of these pathogens in a given area. We used such an approach to...
To assess the value of using whole blood samples for the molecular diagnosis of histoplasmosis, we applied an in-house DNA extraction method and a nested PCR targeting a 210 bp specific segment of the Histoplasma capsulatum HcP100 gene. A whole blood volume of 2.5-3 milliliters was centrifuged and the cellular pellet was treated with Trichoderma ha...
Molecular diagnosis of human histoplasmosis in whole blood samples. To assess the value of using whole blood samples for the molecular diagnosis of histoplasmosis, we applied an in-house DNA extraction method and a nested PCR targeting a 210 bp specific segment of the Histoplasma capsulatum HcP100 gene. A whole blood volume of 2.5-3 milliliters was...
The aim of this work was to describe the distribution of the members of the Cryptococcus species complex (Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii) in hollows of trees from seven parks in Buenos Aires City, to determine the serotypes and genotypes of these environmental isolates and to compare them with the ones reported in the 2001 survey. Four hundr...
In 1892 Alejandro Posadas described the first worldwide case of coccidioidomycosis in a patient named Domingo Escurra. A preserved necropsy piece from the patient's remains is conserved in the Museum of Pathology of the Medical School, Buenos Aires University. Paraffin-embedded specimens obtained from this piece served to identify the fungus involv...
The in vitro activities of amphotericin B (AMB), itraconazole (ITC), voriconazole (VCZ) and terbinafine (TBF) alone and in the combinations AMB+VCZ, TBF+ITC and TBF+VCZ were evaluated against 29 clinical isolates of Fusarium spp. (15 Fusarium solani, 7 Fusarium oxysporum, 2 Fusarium decemcellulare, 2 Fusarium dimerum and 3 other Fusarium spp.). Min...
El género Malassezia ha sido revisado recientemente y, hasta el momento, se acepta que incluye 11 especies, que no siempre pueden ser diferenciadas mediante pruebas fisiológicas y morfológicas. En este trabajo se investigó la concordancia entre las pruebas fenotípicas y un método molecular rápido en la identificación de especies de ese género. Se a...
The genus Malassezia has been recently revised and nowadays includes 11 species that cannot always be differentiated from each other by physiological and morphological tests. This study was aimed to evaluate the correlation between a molecular method and conventional phenotypic features in the identification of Malassezia spp. To achieve this aim,...
We herein report the results of a retrospective nationwide survey on mycoses diagnosed between January and December, 2004. The study included data provided by 72 laboratories located in 19 provinces and in Buenos Aires City. Out of 801,805 microbiological specimens processed that year, only 62,681 (8%) were submitted to mycological studies. A total...
In order to standardize and evaluate a disk diffusion method with visual reading to detect in vitro fluconazole susceptibility of yeast, 1193 clinical isolates were tested. These included 584 Candida albicans, 196 Candida parapsilosis, 200 Candida tropicalis, 113 Candida glabrata, 50 Candida krusei and 50 Candida spp. and other opportunistic yeasts...
Los caninos coexisten estrechamente con los humanos, compartiendo su medio ambiente y difícilmente se trasladan fuera del área donde nacen, lo que los convierte en excelentes centinelas epidemiológicos. Estos animales son susceptibles de adquirir las micosis producidas por Histoplasma capsulatum (Hc) y Paracoccidioides brasiliensis pudiendo generar...
Por primera vez en la Argentina se describe una cepa de Histoplasma capsulatum var. capsulatum con morfotipo aberrante, obtenida de un paciente con SIDA. En los primocultivos desarrollados en agar Sabouraud a 25-28 °C, las colonias de la fase micelial fueron blancas, glabras, umbilicadas, centralmente radiadas y de bordes regulares, más semejantes...
For the first time in Argentina, we describe a strain of Histoplasma capsulatum var. capsulatum with an aberrant morphology that was isolated from a single patient with AIDS. Mycelial phase cultures on agar Sabouraud at 25-28 degrees C showed white, glabrous, umbilicated and centrally radiated colonies. Unusual microscopic findings were the absence...
RESUMEN La incidencia de candidemias aumentó aproximadamente en un 500% en hospitales de alta complejidad y se obser-vó un cambio en la distribución de especies del género Candida, con un incremento de las levaduras no Candida albicans. Con el objeto de conocer la distribución de especies asociadas a fungemias por levaduras en Argentina y determina...
The incidence of candidemia has increased approximately 500% in high-complexity hospitals. A change in the spectrum of Candida infections due to species other than Candida albicans has also been detected. Between April 1999 and April 2000 a multicenter study was performed in order to determine the species distribution associated to candidemias in A...
Intact chromosomes of 19 clinical isolates of Histoplasma capsulatum recently obtained in Argentina, Mexico and Guatemala and the laboratory reference strain G186B from Panama were analyzed using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Chromosomal banding patterns of the human isolates revealed 5-7 bands, ranging from 1.3 to 10 Mbp in size. Strain G186B...
Se comunica el primer aislamiento de Histoplasma capsulatum var. capsulatum de un murciélago macho de la especie Eumops bonariensis, capturado en la ciudad de Buenos Aires en 2003. Los aislamientos fueron recuperados de bazo e hígado e identificados fenotípicamente. Se los comparó por PCR, con 17 aislamientos clínicos, 12 de pacientes residentes en...
We report the first isolation of Histoplasma capsulatum var. capsulatum from a male bat Eumops bonariensis captured in Buenos Aires city in 2003. The pathogen was recovered from spleen and liver specimens, and was identified by its phenotypic characteristics. PCR with primers 1283, (GTG)5, (GACA)4 and M13 was used to compare both bat isolates with...
SUMMARY Immunodiagnosis of endemic mycoses and bronchopulmonary aspergilosis: A multicenter study in Argentina. In order to contribute to the knowledge of the relative frequency of chronic fungal diseases and assess the performance of diagnostic laboratories in Argentina, a multicenter study was performed with the participation of 25 medical center...
In order to contribute to the knowledge of the relative frequency of chronic fungal diseases and assess the performance of diagnostic laboratories in Argentina, a multicenter study was performed with the participation of 25 medical centers located in 12 different provinces and Buenos Aires City. Between 04-01-2000 and 03-30-2001, 965 serum specimen...
Five sequential Cryptococcus neoformans isolates recovered from an AIDS patient with recurrent meningitis were analyzed. Four isolates were fluconazole susceptible,
while the fifth isolate developed fluconazole resistance. Analysis of the 14-α lanosterol demethylase gene (ERG11) showed a point mutation in the resistant strain responsible for the am...
The epidemiology of Malassezia genus is poorly understood; geographical and population factors might have influence on the species distribution. The aim of this work was to determine the frequency of Malassezia species involved in skin diseases in a diagnostic center at Buenos Aires City. From 02/01/1999 to 10/31/2001, 456 skin specimens from 447 p...
Two strains of C. neoformans var. gattii serotype B were isolated from a park in Buenos Aires city, Argentina. Samples were collected in spring, rubbing with swabs on the inner hollow of Eucalyptus spp. and other trees, which were not identified at the collection moment. Samples were swabbed directly onto cafeic acid with antibiotic agar, then incu...
C. neoformans (Cn) causes severe meningitis in immunocompromised patients, particularly those with AIDS. Little is known about Cn serotypes associated with human infections in Argentina due to the lack of antisera availability. The aim of this study was to produce these antisera, to serotype the Argentinean clinical isolates of Cn received at our l...
A bloodstream infection due to Candida haemulonii afflicting a patient with fever and a medical history of megaloblastic anemia is reported. The clinical isolate was misidentified
by the API 20C and VITEK identification systems. The results of susceptibility tests showed that the MIC of amphotericin B
for C. haemulonii was 4 μg/ml. Additional susce...
During the past decades, several studies have reported an increase in the incidence of nosocomial candidosis. In a prospective study, performed at the Departamento de Micología, INEI, ANLIS Dr. C. G. Malbrán and the Servicio de Neonatología and Microbiología, Hospital de Niños Sor María Ludovica, from October 1995 to December 1996, 167 patients wit...
Candida vaginitis is one of the most frequent infection of the female genital tract with a high incidence. Approximately 75% of sexually active women suffer at least one episode of Candida vaginitis and 10% of them have recurrent episodes. Pregnancy, diabetes mellitus and antibiotic treatment are the most common predisposing factors, C. albicans is...
The aim of our work was to determine the genotypic relatedness among H. capsulatum isolates from Argentinian patients with or without AIDS and isolates from other sources and geographic origins. We analyzed band patterns of 16 isolates obtained by RAPD-PCR, 11 Argentinian clinical isolates (8 from patients with AIDS and 3 from patients without AIDS...
We report the first case of maxillary sinusitis caused byActinomucor elegans in an 11-year-old patient. Histopathological and mycological examinations of surgical maxillary sinuses samples showed coenocytic
hyphae characteristic of mucoraceous fungi. The fungi recovered had stolons and rhizoids, nonapophyseal and globose sporangia,
and whorled bran...
Candida spp. colonization in neonates occurs due to vertical or horizontal transmission. Preliminary studies determined that Candida albicans is the principal agent of these infections. In order to establish nosocomial transmission, 26 Candida albicans strains isolated from patients with candidosis hospitalized during a 18-month period in 2 neonata...
We analyzed the in vitro infection process by P. brasiliensis and the effect of extracellular factor(s) produced on monolayers of mammalian Vero cell lines. The yeast phase of four strains was studied: B339 (avirulent or slightly virulent), U, (intermediate virulence), 93745 and 63265 (both highly virulent). Strains of intermediate and high virulen...
Infection with Cryptococcus neoformans is an increasing problem in immunocompromised patients, particularly those with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Amphotericin B and fluconazole are currently acceptable therapies for cryptococcal meningitis; however, their effects remain suboptimal and recurrence or treatment failure is still a prob...
The in vitro activities of three antifungal drugs alone and in combination were evaluated against five isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans using time-kill curves (TKC). The isolates were from AIDS patients who had either died or had failed to show a clinical response during amphotericin B (AMB) treatment. AMB, fluconazole (FCZ) and flucytosine (5FC...
Dermatomycoses are an important sanitary problem. Our country counts with partial epidemiological data only referred to a few geographical areas. The aim of our work was to perform a multicenter study with the participation of 15 medical centers located at the Capital City and in 11 Provinces of Argentina with different socioeconomical and cultural...
A multicenter study was performed between April and September 1998 with the participation of 12 medical centers located in 8 different provinces and in the capital city of Argentina. The aim of this study was to determine the species distribution and the antifungal susceptibility profile of isolates causing nosocomial fungal infections. All the fun...
In 1992, the NCCLS proposed a broth macrodilution method for determining the in vitro susceptibility of yeast. However, for dimorphic fungi no standardised method is available. The aim of our study was to evaluate the reference broth macrodilution method with isolates of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. The in vitro susceptibility of two ATCC strains...
A method for fungic antisera production against Aspergillus fumigatus, Histoplasma capsulatum, Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and Coccidioides immitis in rabbits was evaluated. Intradermic via and antigen in the dilution used for routine tests (UD) were employed to produce positive control serum for immunodiffusion test in agar gel. A. fumigatus, H....
We report the first isolation of Candida dubliniensis in Argentina. This strain was isolated from an oral lesion of an adult patient with AIDS during one recurrent episode of a previously treated oropharingeal candidosis. Phenotypic and genotypic characteristics coincided with those described by Sullivan et al., who was the first to study this new...
Candidiasis has increased its frequency over the last decade, particularly among hospitalized patients where it is accompanied with high rates of mortality, and in patients with AIDS who are predisposed to oropharyngeal or esophageal candidiasis. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of appearance of different yeast species and the r...
The aim of our study was to determine the frequency of appearance of different yeast species and the resistance profiles to current antifungal drugs in HIV patients with oropharingeal candidosis. One hundred-seventeen strains were isolated from 103 HIV patients with these characteristics. In vitro susceptibility tests were performed using a broth m...
A rapid method to evidence urease activity is described. Urea hydrolysis and consequent production ammonia are detected by a chemical reaction producing a blue phenol compound (indophenol blue). Three hundred and three yeast were tested. Out of 107 urease-positive organisms detected by Christensen's Urea Agar Test (CUAT) 102 were positive by our me...
A microdilution antifungal susceptibility test for yeasts was evaluated, based on the macro broth dilution method standardized by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) Subcommittee on Antifungal Susceptibility Testing. Both methods were compared using six reference strains with different patterns of susceptibility to the...
The results obtained with 307 specimens from putatively immunocompetent patients between May 1991 and May 1992 were reviewed, to determine the frequency of isolation of fungal species causing onychomycoses. Sixty eight percent of the specimen were positive for microscopic examination and/or cultures. Onychomycoses occurred with double frequency in...
In a retrospective review of laboratory records at the Department of Mycology, National Institute of Microbiology "Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán", during the period June 1989-July 1991, 1225 putatively immunocompetent cases of superficial mycoses were identified. Ninety five percent of these patients were adults and 5% children. Among the total cases, derm...
