Search

Background: Progressive disseminated histoplasmosis is a significant issue in Latin America, particularly in Brazil, contributing to high mortality rates., Objectives: Our objectives were to comprehensively describe histoplasmosis treatment with various amphotericin B (AmB) formulations, including mortality rates, adverse effects and risk factors for mortality., Methods: This multicentre retrospective cohort study (January 2014-December 2019) evaluated medical records of patients with proven or probable histoplasmosis treated with at least two doses of AmB in seven tertiary medical centres in Brazil. We assessed risk factors associated with death during hospitalization using univariate and multivariate analyses., Results: The study included 215 patients, mostly male (n = 158, 73%) with HIV infection (n = 187, 87%), and a median age of 40 years. Only 11 (5%) patients initiated treatment with liposomal amphotericin B (L-AmB). Amphotericin B deoxycholate (D-AmB) was administered to 159 (74%) patients without changes in the treatment. The overall mortality during hospitalization was 23% (50/215). Variables independently associated with mortality were use of D-AmB (OR 4.93) and hospitalization in ICU (OR 9.46). There was a high incidence of anaemia (n = 19, 90%), acute kidney injury (n = 96, 59%), hypokalaemia (n = 73, 55%) and infusion reactions (n = 44, 20%) during treatment., Conclusions: We found that D-AmB was the main formulation, which was also associated with a higher mortality rate. Lipid formulations of AmB have become more readily available in the public health system in Brazil. Further studies to evaluate the effectiveness of L-AmB will likely show improvements in the treatment outcomes for patients with disseminated histoplasmosis., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Maize is one of the most cultivated species and requires agrochOPemicals for nutrition and pathogen control. Fusarium verticillioides is responsible for damaging plants and stored grains. Plants naturally exposed to stresses have defense mechanisms that are triggered by chemical or biological agents, known as induced systemic resistance. In this study, the yeast Torulaspora globosa (strain CCA6S01) was evaluated as an immune response promoter in maize against F. verticillioides. The treatments started 4 days after maize emergence and consisted of control (saline solution), acetylsalicylic acid (ASA, 100 mg/L), yeast cells (1 × 105 cells/mL), or yeast metabolites (cell-free filtrates). After running the treatments, the plants were inoculated with 1 mL of a F. verticillioides suspension at a concentration of 1 × 106  spores/mL. The application of yeast cells provided similar results to ASA treatment, a known inducer of plant resistance. Yeast cells provided maize plants with fewer rot symptoms and higher activities of enzymes related to plant resistance. Thus, we concluded that T. globosa (strain CCA6S01) might be used in agriculture practice as a plant protection agent. It can help to decrease the application of fungicides in the field and maintain plant productivity under stress., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Applied Microbiology International.)