Onychomycosis is a common infection of the nail plate caused by fungal microrganisms, and represents approximately 50% of nails disorders and 30% of all superficial mycotic infections. We present a study of the frequency, epidemiology and clinical aspects of onychomycosis in the central region of Rio Grande do Sul during the period 1988-1997.

Tinea pedis in the most common type of dermatophytosis, but can mimic many cutaneous diseases and tend to be chronic. We present a study of the frequency, epidemiology and clinical aspects of tinea pedis in the central region of Rio Grande do Sul during the period 1988-1997.

No abstract

This study compared the performance of three culture media used for the determination of minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of amphotericin B and fluconazole against 48 Cryptococcus neoformans strains. For amphotericin B the media employed were RPMI 1640 medium, as indicated by NCCLS as reference, Yeast Nitrogen Base (YNB) as proposed by Ghannoum et al. (YNB-1), Antibiotic medium 3 (AM3) indicated by others, and YNB as proposed by us (YNB-2). In YNB-1, amphotericin B showed broader MIC ranges, varying from 0.125 µg/ml to 1.0 µg/ml; in RPMI 1640 medium and YNB-2 the MICs were similar and in AM3 the MIC ranges were narrower. The same pattern was observed for MIC 90%. For fluconazole the media employed were RPMI 1640 and YNB-1. The MIC ranges were broader and elevated when YNB-1 was employed. MIC 50% were 2.0 µg/ml in RPMI 1640 medium and 4.0 µg/ml in YNB-1. Our results indicate that RPMI 1640 supplemented with 2% glucose allowed a good growth at 48h; YNB as recommended by Ghannoum et al. provided a broader MIC range, AM3 provided a narrow MIC range for amphotericin B, and YNB-2 was very similar to RPMI 1640 medium.

This paper reports a case of chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis in a patient without underlying disease. Aspergilluria was the starting point in the search for the origin of the pulmonary disease, later confirmed by an open lung biopsy.

We report a case of acute primary cutaneous infection of traumatic origin caused by Nocardia asteroides, appeared as cellulitis in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus. Diagnosis was established by direct examination and cultures from aspirate specimens. The clinical forms of Nocardia infections that affect the skin, reported in Rio Grande do Sul and Uruguay, are discussed.

RESUMOAs infecções causadas por Dipodascus capitatus são raras e de difícil tratamento. Aqui se relata um caso em paciente com leucemia mielocítica aguda. O isolamento fúngico ocorreu a partir de hemocultura e a identificação fenotípica baseou-se em métodos micológicos clássicos; a identificação genotípica foi realizada através do sequenciamento da região D1/D2 do 26 rDNA. Os testes de suscetibilidade foram realizados através do Etest ® e microdiluição em caldo. A antifungicoterapia foi ineficaz, registrando-se óbito da paciente no 17° dia após o diagnóstico. Os autores comparam o caso com relatos similares e discutem a emergência destas infecções bem como suas dificuldades diagnósticas e terapêuticas. Palavras-chaves: Dipodascus capitatus. Micoses. ABSTRACTThe infections caused by Dipodascus capitatus are rare, and the treatment is difficult. We reported a case of a patient with acute myeloid leukemia. The fungus was first isolated from hemocultures, and the phenotypic identification was based on mycological methods. The genotyping was carried out by sequencing the region D1/D2 from 26 rDNA. The susceptibility tests were assayed by Etest ® and by the microdilution technique. None of the antifungal treatments employed were effective. The patient died on day 17 after the mycological diagnosis. The authors discussed the emergence of such infections as well as the difficulty regarding the diagnosis and treatment. Keywords: Dipodascus capitatus. Mycoses.A severa neutropenia que acompanha os pacientes com leucemia e submetidos à quimioterapia antineoplásica representa elevado risco para infecções fúngicas, notadamente, as causadas por Candida spp e Aspergillus spp. Espécies menos frequentes como Trichosporon, Geotrichum, Rhodotorula, têm emergido como importantes e desafiadores agentes de micoses oportunistas, entre estes pacientes [1][2][3][4] . Neste contexto, relatamos um caso de infecção sistêmica causada por Dipodascus capitatus em paciente com leucemia mielocítica aguda, com evolução fatal.Paciente feminina, 17 anos, procurou atendimento no Hospital Universitário de Santa Maria, relatando febre, náuseas, sudorese, tonturas e dor na axila esquerda há duas semanas. Ao exame físico apresentava palidez, febre e lesões crostosas sugestivas de Herpes simplex no mento e coxa esquerda. O hemograma revelou leucocitose (51.000/mm³) com células blásticas (68%), granulócitos (7,3%) e monócitos (22%); as plaquetas somavam 137.000/ mm³ e hemoglobina era de 6,1g/dL. Confirmou-se o diagnóstico de LMA com imunofenótipo CD13 e CD33 positivos. Iniciouse a antibioticoterapia com ceftazidima, penicilina G cristalina e aciclovir. A quimioterapia antineoplásica foi iniciada três dias após a internação com citosina arabinosídio (ARA-C) e 2 clorodeoxi-adenosina (2CDA). No 4° dia pós-internação, a lesão axilar passou a drenar secreção purulenta e, após medidas locais, evoluiu para cicatrização. Ao 5° dia pós-quimioterapia a leucometria era de 1.700/mm³ com ausência de neutrófilos; a febre de até 39,6°C persistia o que determinou a subst...

We report a further case of peritonitis due to Trichosporon inkin in a patient undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. Peritonitis caused by Trichosporon species is reviewed.