Otomicosis por Aspergillus niger

El 15% al 20% de las otitis externas son atribuidas a una etiología fúngica, aunque en los últimos años esto parece ir en aumento debido a la utilización de antibióticos de amplio espectro, alteraciones de la inmunidad y uso de corticosteroides, entre otros factores.Fil: Cattana, Maria Emilia. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Instituto de Medicina Regional; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Fernández, M, S.. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Instituto de Medicina Regional; ArgentinaFil: Rojas, Florencia Dinorah. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Instituto de Medicina Regional; ArgentinaFil: Sosa, M. A.. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Instituto de Medicina Regional; ArgentinaFil: Giusiano, Gustavo Emilio. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Instituto de Medicina Regional; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Parámetros para el monitoreo de la biota fúngica interior en un área subtropical

En la práctica médica tienen cada vez más importancia las enfermedades causadas por hongos oportunistas adquiridas en ambientes hospitalarios. La mayor gravedad se presenta en lugares de alto riesgo, como guarderías, residencias de ancianos, quirófanos y Unidades de Terapia Intensiva (UTI)(1) . En los ambientes internos la proliferación de los contaminantes biológicos (principalmente hongos) se da en las zonas húmedas como floreros, humedad de las paredes, humidificadores, macetas con plantas y en las fibras capaces de retenerlos, a saber, filtros de aire, alfombras, cortinas de tela, pinturas porosas, etc. Estos contaminantes son transportados por visitantes, personal hospitalario, alimentos contaminados, sondas urinarias, equipos de terapia intravenosa e instrumentos mal esterilizados (2,3,4) . Entre los agentes más destacados se encuentran los mohos, Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, Alternaría, Cladosporiutn, Acremonium, Stachybotrys, Curvularia y Photna y las levaduras Candida, Cryptococcus, Rhodotorula y Geotrichum(1,5) . Por lo tanto, la vigilancia epidemiológica en los hospitales es necesaria para evitar infecciones fúngicas. Para ello, es imprescindible conocer la calidad del aire confinado, realizando un recuento selectivo de levaduras y de mohos, como el más elemental mecanismo de prevención de enfermedade

Topology-Induced Critical Current Enhancement in Josephson Networks

We investigate the properties of Josephson junction networks with inhomogeneous architecture. The networks are shaped as "quare comb" planar lattices on which Josephson junctions link superconducting islands arranged in the plane to generate the pertinent topology. Compared to the behavior of reference linear arrays, the temperature dependencies of the Josephson currents of the branches of the network exhibit relevant differences. The observed phenomena evidence new and surprising behavior of superconducting Josephson arrays as well as remarkable similarities with bosonic junction arrays.Comment: improved figures (added magnetic pattern and single junction switching) some changes in the text and in the titl

Current situation of endemic mycosis in the Americas and the Caribbean: Proceedings of the first international meeting on endemic mycoses of the Americas (IMEMA)

Background: The Americas are home to biologically and clinically diverse endemic fungi, including Blastomyces, Coccidioides, Emergomyces, Histoplasma, Paracoccidioides and Sporothrix. In endemic areas with high risk of infection, these fungal pathogens represent an important public health problem. Objectives: This report aims to summarise the main findings of the regional analysis carried out on the status of the endemic mycoses of the Americas, done at the first International Meeting on Endemic Mycoses of the Americas (IMEMA). Methods: A regional analysis for the Americas was done, the 27 territories were grouped into nine regions. A SWOT analysis was done. Results: All territories reported availability of microscopy. Seventy percent of territories reported antibody testing, 67% of territories reported availability of Histoplasma antigen testing. None of the territories reported the use of (1–3)-β-d-glucan. Fifty two percent of territories reported the availability of PCR testing in reference centres (mostly for histoplasmosis). Most of the territories reported access to medications such as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, itraconazole, voriconazole and amphotericin B (AMB) deoxycholate. Many countries had limited access to liposomal formulation of AMB and newer azoles, such as posaconazole and isavuconazole. Surveillance of these fungal diseases was minimal. Conclusions: A consensus emerged among meeting participants, this group concluded that endemic mycoses are neglected diseases, and due to their severity and lack of resources, the improvement of diagnosis, treatment and surveillance is needed.Fil: Caceres, Diego H.. Universidad Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Señora del Rosario; Colombia. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Estados UnidosFil: Echeverri Tirado, Laura C.. Universidad de Antioquia; ColombiaFil: Bonifaz, Alexandro. Hospital General de Mexico; MéxicoFil: Adenis, Antoine. Inserm; FranciaFil: Gomez, Beatriz L.. Universidad Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Señora del Rosario; ColombiaFil: Bnada Flores, Claudia Lizett. Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia; PerúFil: Canteros, Cristina Elena. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas; ArgentinaFil: Santos, Daniel Wagner. Universidade Federal do Maranhao; BrasilFil: Arathoon, Eduardo. Asociación de Salud Integral; GuatemalaFil: Ramirez Soto, Elia. Centro Nacional de Enfermedades Tropicales; BoliviaFil: Queiroz-Telles, Flavio. Universidade Federal do Paraná; BrasilFil: Schwartz, Ilan S.. University of Alberta; CanadáFil: Zurita, Jeannete. Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador; EcuadorFil: Serra Damasceno, Lisandra. Universidade Estadual do Ceará; BrasilFil: Garcia, Nataly. Sociedad Venezolana de Microbiología; VenezuelaFil: Fernandez, Norma B.. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital de Clínicas General San Martín; ArgentinaFil: Chincha, Omayra. Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia; PerúFil: Araujo, Patricia. Ministerio de Salud Pública y Bienestar Social; ParaguayFil: Rabagliati, Ricardo. No especifíca;Fil: Chiller, Tom. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Estados UnidosFil: Giusiano, Gustavo Emilio. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Instituto de Medicina Regional; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste; Argentin

Epidemiology of Invasive Fungal Infections in Latin America

The pathogenic role of invasive fungal infections (IFIs) has increased during the past two decades in Latin America and worldwide, and the number of patients at risk has risen dramatically. Working habits and leisure activities have also been a focus of attention by public health officials, as endemic mycoses have provoked a number of outbreaks. An extensive search of medical literature from Latin America suggests that the incidence of IFIs from both endemic and opportunistic fungi has increased. The increase in endemic mycoses is probably related to population changes (migration, tourism, and increased population growth), whereas the increase in opportunistic mycoses may be associated with the greater number of people at risk. In both cases, the early and appropriate use of diagnostic procedures has improved diagnosis and outcome