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Background: Cryptococcus yeast infections primarily affect immunocompromised patients. There have been few susceptibility studies conducted for this genus in Chile., Aims: To determine the in vitro susceptibility to commonly used antifungals and evaluate the concordance between susceptibility determined by microdilution in broth and commercially available strips., Methods: Descriptive study of 21 Cryptococcus strains, isolated from cerebrospinal fluid and blood. The MIC50 and MIC90 for fluconazole, voriconazole and amphotericin B was determined by broth microdilution (Sensititre Yeast One®) and by commercial drug sensitivity strips (MIC Test Strips)., Results: All strains corresponded to C. neoformans. The ranges of MIC50 and MIC90 for each antifungal studied were wide by both methods. The essential agreement between Sensititre Yeast One test and strips was 24, 62 and 29% for fluconazole, voriconazole and amphotericin B, respectively., Conclusions: The Sensititre Yeast One test and MIC Test Strips exhibited poor essential concordance, especially for fluconazole and amphotericin B.

Background: Ringworm are skin and its annexes infections. Trichophyton tonsurans is an emergent anthropophilic fungus that might cause outbreaks., Aim: To describe a ringworm outbreak by T tonsurans in an elementary school in Valparaíso, Chile., Methods: A descriptive study was run between June and August, 2018. Students and his closest relatives in contact with them who were clinically diagnosed with ringworm have been considered a case. Mycological studies of samples had been carried out through morphophysiology tests. Data are shown in numbers and percentages., Results: There were 18 cases, 16 kids (15 from kindergarten) and 2 adults. Attack rate was 68% in kindergarten. Nine cases were boys with average age of 6 years old. For 14 cases their nationality was Chilean and in 1 case Haitian. First case was a Chilean boy, and primary case was a Haitian boy. The most frequent location was face. Ten cases yielded positive cultures for T tonsurans. Most of the patients needed terbinafine treatment after a therapeutic failure performed with clotrimazole., Conclusion: T. tonsurans outbreak ocurred mainly in kindergarten male. The most frequent location was face. Most of the patients needed terbinafine treatment after a therapeutic failure with clotrimazole.

Introduction: Superficial mycoses are infections of the keratinous tissue caused by dermatophytes, yeasts and environmental fungi., Objectives: To identify the species of dermatophytes, yeasts and environmental fungi that cause superficial mycosis and analyze their differences by sex, age and location of the lesion, in patients from the region of Valparaiso, during 2007-2009., Materials and Methods: 1004 patients diagnosed with superficial mycoses were studied. All ages and both genera were included. The study was done using direct microscopic examination with 20% KOH and culture of the lesions. Fungi identification was mainly morphophysiological., Results: Of the 1004 patients studied, 609 were women and 87.7% was 15 years old or younger. Toenail onychomycosis was the most frequent lesion (58.1%), followed by tinea pedis and interdigitalis (16.3%). In patients younger than 8 years old, tinea capitis by Microsporum canis was the most common mycoses. Among dermatophytes, Trichophyton rubrum (78.9%) predominated in most locations, followed by Trichophyton mentagrophytes (14.9%) and M. canis (5.4%). Candida spp. (95.4%) prevailed among the yeasts causing onychomycosis. There were 27 cases of toenail onychomycosis caused by environmental fungi, mainly Fusarium., Conclusions: Our results are consistent with national and international data, where T. rubrum is the predominant agent of dermatomycoses. We report the emergency of agents not described in Chile or Latin America in these infections.

Introduction: Invasive fungal disease (IFD) is a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in immuno-compromised patients. These infections are caused mainly by Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus., Objectives: To describe IFD diagnosed by culture in adults and children from five hospitals in Valparaíso, Chile and to determine the species involved and the in vitro sensitivity oí Candida spp., Material and Methods: Biodemographical data, results of cultures, antifungal treatment and mortality after 30 days, was collected. The fungi were identified by standard methods and the sensitivity of the yeasts was obtained according to the M44-A CLSI document., Results: Fifty one IFD were diagnosed, 13 in patients with haematological malignancies and 10 in immunocompetent patients from the adult ICU. The following fungal species were isolated: 34 yeasts, 15 filamentous fungi and 2 Histoplasma capsulatum. There were 33 proven and 1 probable IFD by yeasts. By filamentous fungi, there were 6 proven and 9 probable IFD, 13 out of 15 isolated species were Aspergillus (A. fumigatus being the most frequent). C. albicans was the most frequent isolated yeast, followed by C. tropicalis and C. parapsilosis. All were sensitive to fluconazol and voriconazol, excepting C. glabrata. The mortality by Candida and by filamentous fungi was 42.42% and 86.66% respectively., Conclusions: IFD was diagnosed mainly in immunocompromised and adult ICU patients. The mortality rate in IFD by filamentous fungi was higher than Candida group. The main agents involved were Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus. A high sensitivity to fluconazol and voriconazol was found in strains of Candida.