EFS12- Book of abstracts - Contact
EFS12- Book of abstracts - Contact
EFS12- Book of abstracts - Contact
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SESSION 6: FUTURE CHALLENGE FOR EUROPE AND WORLDWIDE<br />
P142 - ISHAM Working group on Clinical Fusarium<br />
A. D. van Diepeningen 1 , G. S. de Hoog 1,2,3,4<br />
1 CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre, Utrecht, the Netherlands; 2 Institute <strong>of</strong> Biodiversity and<br />
Ecosystem Dynamics, University <strong>of</strong> Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; 3 Peking University<br />
Health Science Center, Research Center for Medical Mycology, Beijing, China; 4 Sun Yat-Sen<br />
Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China<br />
E-mail: a.diepeningen@cbs.knaw.nl<br />
Objective: ISHAM working group focusing on Fusarium species causing human<br />
and animal infections<br />
Fusarium infections: Infections caused by Fusarium species can be classified in<br />
three classes: 1) Superficial infections <strong>of</strong> skin and nails; 2) Keratitis <strong>of</strong> the cornea,<br />
and 3) Deep and disseminated infections. Whereas the first two types <strong>of</strong> these<br />
opportunistic infections are generally seen in immunocompetent hosts, the deeper<br />
mycoses are mostly restricted to immunocompromised patients. Over the past<br />
three decades, clinical data suggest that the numbers <strong>of</strong> all types <strong>of</strong> infections<br />
caused by Fusarium species may be increasing. Most Fusarium species prove to<br />
be very resistant to the currently used antifungal drugs, although amphotericin B,<br />
posaconazole, and voriconazole show good activity against this genus. However,<br />
strains resistant to these compounds are regularly encountered, and combination<br />
therapy is frequently required.<br />
Fusarium species: The prototype <strong>of</strong> Fusarium is a well recognizable fungus with<br />
clear banana-shaped macroconidia <strong>of</strong> variable sizes, the presence or absence <strong>of</strong><br />
smaller microconidia <strong>of</strong> variable shape, and the presence or absence <strong>of</strong><br />
chlamydospores. Some clinically relevant species may produce pigments (e.g.,<br />
yellow-orange, red or violet) that are exuded into the medium. Fusarium<br />
comprises a complex cluster <strong>of</strong> different species and many species complexes,<br />
which can best be distinguished with the aid <strong>of</strong> DNA sequence data. Precise<br />
identification <strong>of</strong> species/multilocus haplotypes is important for diagnosis,<br />
treatment, and epidemiological purposes. Though roughly two-thirds <strong>of</strong> infections<br />
are caused by members <strong>of</strong> the Fusarium solani species complex, species within<br />
seven other species complexes have been reported to cause mycoses.<br />
The aim <strong>of</strong> the working group:Our aim is to study Fusarium infections both from<br />
the side <strong>of</strong> the infected host as well as from the pathogen side, to exchange<br />
knowledge and to provide tools and aids for rapid identification and treatment.<br />
Keywords: Fusariosis, Detection techniques, human and animal infections<br />
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