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Trichosporonosis corresponds to a systemic fungal disease that leads to high mortality rates and is frequently associated with medical devices. It affects immunosuppressed patients in particular and is strongly linked to acquired human immunodeficiency, organ and tissue transplants, and malignant hematologic diseases such as leukemia and lymphomas. Trichosporon infections have been increasingly reported worldwide; however, little information is available either about their characteristics or the causative microorganism. Thus, the aims of the present study were: to investigate 59 yeasts of the genus Trichosporon by verifying the biofilm formation capacity of isolates; to analyze the susceptibility patterns of planktonic cells against the antifungals fluconazole, itraconazole, amphotericin-B, voriconazole, and caspofungin by comparing European Committee for Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) broth microdilution technique with the commercial method Etest; and to assess the susceptibility patterns of biofilm cells (sessile) against the same antifungals through broth microdilution. The ability to form biofilm on the surface of polystyrene plates was noted for all isolates, and 54.3% of samples were considered strong producers. Comparison between the antifungal susceptibility techniques evidenced that Etest showed higher and discordant minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) from those obtained by the microdilution method, especially for fluconazole, itraconazole, and caspofungin. Considering the susceptibility of biofilms, most species had high MIC50 and MIC90 against the tested antifungals, showing 4-to-66-fold higher concentrations for amphotericin B and 2-to-33-fold greater concentrations for caspofungin. These results highlight the importance of further studies with Trichosporon spp. for comparison between laboratory findings and in vivo response, considering both the susceptibility tests and the behavior of biofilm cells against drugs., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The International Society for Human and Animal Mycology.)

Candida yeasts are the most frequent in the vaginal content. This yeast may be a normal microbiota but also causes candidiasis. In symptomatic cases, primary candidiasis (VVC) or recurrence (RVVC) can be considered. This study aims to compare the frequency and in vitro sensitivity profile of Candida species isolated in the vaginal content with the different stages of the presence of yeasts. A total of 258 non-pregnant patients with/without VVC were prospectively screened at a teaching Health Centre of the Faculty of Medicine, in the University of Sao Paulo. The vaginal isolates were identified by traditional and molecular methods. Yeasts were isolated in 160 women. 34% were asymptomatic, 34% with vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), and 32% recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC). C. albicans was the most frequent species with 50.1% (82/160), followed by C. parapsilosis 13.7%(22/160), C. glabrata 12.5% (20/160), and C. tropicalis (6.2%). Analysis by the group showed that, in the asymptomatic group, eight yeast species were isolated, C. albicans 44.5% (24/54), C. glabrata 20% (11/54), C. parapsilosis and Rhodotorula rubra being the most frequent. In the VVC group, 11 yeast species were identified. Most isolates were C. albicans 68.5% (37/54), C. tropicalis 7.5% (4/54), and C. parapsilosis 5.5% (3/54). In the RVVC group, ten species were identified, the most frequent being C. albicans 38.5% (20/52), C. parapsilosis 17% (9/52), C. glabrata 4% (8/52), and C. tropicalis 6% (3/52). Less frequent species, such as C. haemulonii and Trichosporon spp, were isolated in the VVC and RVVC groups, C. kefyr was isolated in the three groups studied, and Rhodotorula spp was isolated in the control and RVVC groups. Candida metapsilosis was present in two isolates from the RVVC group. Most isolates were considered sensitive to the tested antifungals. Less sensitivity was seen for caspofungin. In this study, we were able to verify that the most common species of yeasts found in vaginal secretion were isolated in the three groups studied; however, there was the diversity of species in VVC and RVVC. Cryptic species C. haemulonii and were isolated in symptomatic patients. High levels of MICs, some of the antifungals tested, in the control group, draw attention in the group of asymptomatic women. We would like to emphasize that this research aims to assist clinicians and gynecologists, as well as assist in the epidemiological studies of candidiasis, in our country, how to draw attention to the profile of sensitivity/resistance to antifungals.