Invasive infections due to Saprochaete and Geotrichum species: Report of 23 cases from the FungiScope Registry

Saprochaete and Geotrichum spp. are rare emerging fungi causing invasive fungal diseases in immunosuppressed patients and scarce evidence is available for treatment decisions. Among 505 cases of rare IFD from the FungiScope registry, we identified 23 cases of invasive infections caused by these fungi reported from 10 countries over a 12-year period. All cases were adults and previous chemotherapy with associated neutropenia was the most common co-morbidity. Fungaemia was confirmed in 14 (61%) cases and deep organ involvement included lungs, liver, spleen, central nervous system and kidneys. Fungi were S.capitata (n=14), S.clavata (n=5), G.candidum (n=2) and Geotrichum spp. (n=2). Susceptibility was tested in 16 (70%) isolates. All S.capitata and S.clavata isolates with the exception of one S.capitata (MIC 4mg/L) isolate had MICs>32mg/L for caspofungin. For micafungin and anidulafungin, MICs varied between 0.25 and >32mg/L. One case was diagnosed postmortem, 22 patients received targeted treatment, with voriconazole as the most frequent first line drug. Overall mortality was 65% (n=15). Initial echinocandin treatment was associated with worse outcome at day 30 when compared to treatment with other antifungals (amphotericin B +/- flucytosine, voriconazole, fluconazole and itraconazole) (P=.036). Echinocandins are not an option for these infections

DISSEMINATED FUSARIOSIS IN IMMUNOCOMPROMISED CHILDREN-ANALYSIS OF RECENT CASES IDENTIFIED IN THE GLOBAL FUNGISCOPE REGISTRY

Disseminated fusariosis is a rare disease, and data are scant in pediatric patients. In the FungiScope registry, we identified 10 children with disseminated fusariosis between 2006 and 2015. Our analysis of the largest pediatric case series reported to date adds pediatric-specific experience to the management of this opportunistic infection in children

FungiScope (TM) - Global Emerging Fungal Infection Registry

Rare invasive fungal diseases (IFD) are challenging for the treating physicians because of their unspecific clinical presentation, as well as the lack of standardised diagnostic and effective treatment strategies. Late onset of treatment and inappropriate medication is associated with high mortality, thus, urging the need for a better understanding of these diseases. The purpose of FungiScope (TM) is to continuously collect clinical information and specimens to improve the knowledge on epidemiology and eventually improve patient management of these orphan diseases. FungiScope (TM) was founded in 2003, and today, collaborators from 66 countries support the registry. So far, clinical data of 794 cases have been entered using a web-based approach. Within the growing network of experts, new collaborations developed, leading to several publications of comprehensive analyses of patient subgroups identified from the registry. Data extracted from FungiScope (TM) have also been used as the sole control group for the approval of a new antifungal drug. Due to the rarity of these diseases, a global registry is an appropriate method of pooling the scarce and scattered information. Joining efforts across medical specialities and geographical borders is key for researching rare IFD. Here, we describe the structure and management of the FungiScope (TM) registry

Primary prophylaxis of bacterial infections and Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in patients with hematologic malignancies and solid tumors: 2020 updated guidelines of the Infectious Diseases Working Party of the German Society of Hematology and Medical Oncology (AGIHO/DGHO)

Hematologic and oncologic patients with chemo- or immunotherapy-related immunosuppression are at substantial risk for bacterial infections and Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PcP). As bacterial resistances are increasing worldwide and new research reshapes our understanding of the interactions between the human host and bacterial commensals, administration of antibacterial prophylaxis has become a matter of discussion. This guideline constitutes an update of the 2013 published guideline of the Infectious Diseases Working Party (AGIHO) of the German Society for Hematology and Medical Oncology (DGHO). It gives an overview about current strategies for antibacterial prophylaxis in cancer patients while taking into account the impact of antibacterial prophylaxis on the human microbiome and resistance development. Current literature published from January 2012 to August 2020 was searched and evidence-based recommendations were developed by an expert panel. All recommendations were discussed and approved in a consensus conference of the AGIHO prior to publication. As a result, we present a comprehensive update and extension of our guideline for antibacterial and PcP prophylaxis in cancer patients

Global guideline for the diagnosis and management of rare yeast infections: an initiative of the ECMM in cooperation with ISHAM and ASM

Uncommon, or rare, yeast infections are on the rise given increasing numbers of patients who are immunocompromised or seriously ill. The major pathogens include those of the genera Geotrichum, Saprochaete, Magnusiomyces, and Trichosporon (ie, basidiomycetes) and Kodamaea, Malassezia, Pseudozyma (ie, now Moesziomyces or Dirkmeia), Rhodotorula, Saccharomyces, and Sporobolomyces (ie, ascomycetes). A considered approach to the complex, multidisciplinary management of infections that are caused by these pathogens is essential to optimising patient outcomes; however, management guidelines are either region-specific or require updating. In alignment with the One World-One Guideline initiative to incorporate regional differences, experts from diverse geographical regions analysed publications describing the epidemiology and management of the previously mentioned rare yeasts. This guideline summarises the consensus recommendations with regards to the diagnostic and therapeutic options for patients with these rare yeast infections, with the intent of providing practical assistance in clinical decision making. Because there is less clinical experience of patients with rare yeast infections and studies on these patients were not randomised, nor were groups compared, most recommendations are not robust in their validation but represent insights by use of expert opinions and in-vitro susceptibility results. In this Review, we report the key features of the epidemiology, diagnosis, antifungal susceptibility, and treatment outcomes of patients with Geotrichum, Saprochaete, Magnusiomyces, and Trichosporon spp infections

Global guideline for the diagnosis and management of rare yeast infections: an initiative of the ECMM in cooperation with ISHAM and ASM

Uncommon, or rare, yeast infections are on the rise given increasing numbers of patients who are immunocompromised or seriously ill. The major pathogens include those of the genera Geotrichum, Saprochaete, Magnusiomyces, and Trichosporon (ie, basidiomycetes) and Kodamaea, Malassezia, Pseudozyma (ie, now Moesziomyces or Dirkmeia), Rhodotorula, Saccharomyces, and Sporobolomyces (ie, ascomycetes). A considered approach to the complex, multidisciplinary management of infections that are caused by these pathogens is essential to optimising patient outcomes; however, management guidelines are either region-specific or require updating. In alignment with the One World-One Guideline initiative to incorporate regional differences, experts from diverse geographical regions analysed publications describing the epidemiology and management of the previously mentioned rare yeasts. This guideline summarises the consensus recommendations with regards to the diagnostic and therapeutic options for patients with these rare yeast infections, with the intent of providing practical assistance in clinical decision making. Because there is less clinical experience of patients with rare yeast infections and studies on these patients were not randomised, nor were groups compared, most recommendations are not robust in their validation but represent insights by use of expert opinions and in-vitro susceptibility results. In this Review, we report the key features of the epidemiology, diagnosis, antifungal susceptibility, and treatment outcomes of patients with Geotrichum, Saprochaete, Magnusiomyces, and Trichosporon spp infections