صباح میاهی

Candidemia is a major hospital-acquired fungal infection, especially among burn patients. Recognizing the risk factors and the particular organism involved is crucial for effective treatment.

Blood samples from 147 hospitalized burn patients were collected, totaling 534 samples, and cultured in a biphasic medium, then incubated aerobically at 37°C. Candida species were identified using specialized culture media and RFLP-PCR with the MspI restriction enzyme. Descriptive statistics were applied to outline the risk factors, while Student's t-test was employed to compare the variables.

Candidemia was detected in 8 patients (5.44%) among hospitalized burn patients. The mean age was 38.3±21.3 years, with an average hospital stay of 32.7 days, a total body surface area burned of 32.7%, and a mortality rate of 19.7%. Patients with candidemia had higher values for these variables. Major causes of hospitalization included explosions, burns over more than three sites (70.1%), and severe burns (degrees 3-4). Significant associations were found between candidemia and the use of central venous catheters, catheter colonization, corticosteroid use, and intravenous nutrition (P≤0.05). No significant links were noted between candidemia and skin grafts, wound dressings, antibacterial antibiotic use, or fever. The organisms identified were Candida albicans (75%), Candida glabrata (12.5%), and Candida tropicalis (12.5%).

The rapid identification, effective management, and treatment of this infection can significantly decrease complications and mortality rates in patients with burn injuries.

Camel breeding is common in East of Iran due to its semi-arid climate and desert conditions. It transmits some diseases to other ruminants and humans due to carrying common blood parasites between humans and animals. This work aimed at studying the presence of Trypanosoma and Piroplasmida (Babesia and Theileria) species in camels in South Khorasan province using parasitological and molecular methods.

In this study, blood samples were taken from 200 camels in South Khorasan that were randomly selected in 2020. Then, thick and thin smear were prepared from the samples and stained with Giemsa staining technique and examined under a light microscope. For molecular detection of Trypanosoma, Theileria and Babesia, specific primers of each genus were used.

Microscopic examination showed that out of 200 blood samples, 8 samples (4%) were infected with Trypanosoma and no samples were infected with Theileria and Babesia. According to molecular experiments, six samples (3%) had DNA of Trypanosoma evansi and five samples (2.5%) were found with Trypanosoma brucei DNA. But the DNA of Theileria and Babesia were not observed. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the sample isolated in the present study had a high genetic affinity with genotype A of Trypanosoma evansi.

To the best of our knowledge, this was the first study to investigate the prevalence of Surra in South Khorasan province. The presence of Trypanosoma in the blood of camels in this region signifies the need for a careful monitoring system and evaluation studies as a prerequisite for controlling blood parasitic diseases in camels in South Khorasan.

Due to the predisposing conditions in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) caused by defective mucociliary clearance facilitates of colonization and invasion with bacteria and fungal species has dramatically increased. In different studies many opportunistic fungi such as Candida and Aspergillus species have been frequently isolated from the respiratory tract of patient suffering from cystic fibrosis. Molecular biotyping studies have revealed that some fungal genotypes are capable of chronically colonizing in the airways. Although colonization of Candida species was more common، other fungi such as Aspergillus species، Scedosporium apiospermum، and Exophiala dermatitidis frequently recovered from respiratory secretions of CF patients. Due to the predisposing conditions of fungi agent colonization in these patients، identification and preliminary diagnosis of infectious agents for early treatment and preventing the invasion is highly recommended. On the other hand، regarding the differences in epidemiology، virulence، and susceptibility profile in isolated species of fungi from cystic fibrosis patients، identification and discrimination of ethological agents are crucially important and further studies is highly suggested.

Fungi are widely distributed in nature and they are usually present in attomospher but other sources such as water play an important role in their ecology. This study was done to evaluate mycoflora assessment in drinking tap water in Sari, North of Iran. The tap water collected form Sari water distribution system for fungi.

In this descriptive study, a volume of 100 ml of tap drinking water samples (n=60) were collected in sterile bottles. All water samples passed through sterile 0.45 micrometer filters. The filters were placed directly on Malt extract agar and incubated at 27°C for 3-7 days. Routine mycological techniques were applied to identify the grown fungi.

Out of 468 grown fungal colonies, eight different fungal genera were identified. The total mean cfu per 100 ml for the positive samples were 8.4. Aspergillus (37.4%) and Penicillium (27.3%) were the most common isolated fungi. Rhizopus (0.6%) had the lowest frequency. Among Aspergillus species, A. flavus had the highest frequency.

Our result showed that various fungi were present in the tap drinking water. We propose fungi should be considered as part of the microbiological analysis parameters in drinking tap water.

Background and Onychomycosis is a nail fungal infection caused by various species of dermatophytes, yeasts and non-dermatophytic molds and represents about 30% of cutaneous mycotic infections. The goal of this study was to investigate the frequency of onychomycosis and its associated factors in patients referred to Boali Sina Hospital and Toba dermatology outpatient clinics, Sari. In this cross-sectional study, nail specimens were collected from 101 patients suspected of onychomycosis during a 14 month period. Nail specimens were examined by direct microscopy, using potassium hydroxide (KOH) 20%, KOH + CFW, KONCPA (KOH treated nail clipping+PAS) and also culturing on sabouraud’s dextrose agar, containing chloramphenicol (SC), and sabouraud’s dextrose agar containing cyclohexamide and chloramphenicol (SCC) mediums. In this study, 79 (78%) of patients were female and 22 (22%) were male. Yeasts were isolated in 30% cases of onychomycosis, mainly from fingernails. Candida albicans, and C.krusei was the most prevalent species. Non-dermatophytic filamentous fungi were yielded at 24%, especially from toenails, with Aspergillus terreus being the most prevalent species. Dermatophytes were found in 7% of the samples, especially from toenails. Trichophyton mentagrophytes was the predominant species. Unknown filamentous fungi were identified in 19% of samples, while mixed infections were identified in 20% of samples. The highest prevalence rate of onychomycosis was identified in the patients within the 30 to 49 years of age group. Distal and lateral subfungual onychomycosis (DLSO) was the most prevalent clinical types with (88%), followed by WSO (5%), PSO (5%), TDO (1%) and DLSO + PSO (1%). The results of our study showed that onychomycosis is one of the most prevalent infections in patients who are suffering from nail disorders. Yeast and yeast like organisms cause these infections more than other fungus in this region. Women are more infected, as they are in daily contact with detergents and moisture.

Background and Âsthma is a chronic disease that is classified in two types, Âllergic and non-Âllergic. Ïn allergic type allergens such as fungi induce asthmatic reactions. Ünlike the most common allergens such as mite, pollen and chemicals, fungal spore, as an allergen is ubiquitous and present in different seasons. The aim of this study was the determine the incidence of ÏgË to common allergenic mold in asthmatic patients from Sari city. Â total of 84 asthmatic patients froms sari city were selected using sequenctial sampling method. Sera of all patients were tested for ÏgË total and specific ÏgË against Âspergillus niger, Çladosporium and Âlternaria alternate using GËNËSÏS and ÂlerÇHËK’S Âllernaria specific human ÏgË kit, respectively. 57.14% of the patients had total ÏgË of more than normal range. Prevalence of specific ÏgË for Âlternaria (20.4%) ranked the first, followed by Çladospronium (19.05%) and Âspergillus niger (1.10%). 10.71% of the patients had specific ÏgË to Âlternaria and Çladosporium, concurrently. Çonclusion: The results of this study showed that in spite of high incidence of the total ÏgË and specific ÏgË against Âlternaria alternata and Çladosporium in the special age group, there was no significant relation with age and sex. Most of the patients with total ÏgË more than normal range, were positive for specific ÏgË to Âlternaria alternata and Çladosporium.