%0 Journal Article
%T Epidemiology and Changes in Patient-Related Factors from 1997 to 2009 in Clinical Yeast Isolates Related to Dermatology, Gynaecology, and Paediatrics
%A Viktor Czaika
%A Pietro Nenoff
%A Andreas Gl£¿ckner
%A Wolfgang Fegeler
%A Karsten Becker
%A Arno F. Schmalreck
%J International Journal of Microbiology
%D 2013
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2013/703905
%X From 1997 to 2009, 1,862 dermatology, gynaecology, and paediatrics (DGP) associated clinical yeast isolates were analysed for species occurrence, specimen origin and type, (multi-) resistance pattern, and testing period. The top seven of the isolated DGP-associated species remained the same as compared to total medical wards, with Candida albicans (45%) as most frequent pathogen. However, the DGP wards and DGP ICUs showed species-specific profiles; that is, the species distribution is clinic-specific similar and however differs in their percentage from ward to ward. By applying the ¡°one fungus one name¡± principle, respectively, the appropriate current taxonomic species denominations, it has been shown that no trend to emerging species from 1998 to 2008 could be detected. In particular the frequently isolated non-Candida albicans species isolated in the DGP departments have already been detected in or before 1997. As yeasts are part of the cutaneous microbiota and play an important role as opportunistic pathogens for superficial infections, proper identification of the isolates according to the new nomenclature deems to be essential for specific and calculated antifungal therapy for yeast-like DGP-related infectious agents. 1. Introduction Superficial fungal infections are often chronic and recurring. It has been estimated that approximately 15% of the population has fungal infections of the skin (tinea pedis or athlete¡¯s foot) or nails (onychomycosis) or of the feet. These infections are common in older children and adults [1]. Distal subungual, proximal, subungual, and white superficial onychomycoses are usually caused by dermatophytes, but Candida spp. may be present in all types in less than 1% of these cases [2]. In the past, yeasts are thought to be simply skin contaminants [3]; however, yeasts and nondermatophyte moulds may also cause toenail onychomycosis [4¨C8]. A higher proportion of yeasts is generally found in onychomycosis, where dermatophytes (68%), yeasts (29%), and moulds (3%) are the most causative fungal pathogens [9]. Some Candida spp. causing onychomycosis were reported to be partly resistant to oral antifungal agents (AFAs). In patients with chronic mucocutaneous infections, the main yeast pathogen is Candida (C.) albicans, but C. tropicalis, C parapsilosis, Issatchenkia (I.) orientalis, and Meyerozyma (M.) guilliermondii may also contribute to these infections [10]. It has been suggested by Clayton and Noble [11] that the spread of yeasts in the hospital ward occurs in a similar way to the spread of Staphylococcus aureus. In
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijmicro/2013/703905/